Chhattisgarhwill restore the old pension scheme for the employees, waive examination fee for competitive exams organised by the state and increase payouts under the Rajiv Gandhi Bhoomiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana to Rs 7,000, chief minister BhupeshBaghelsaid while presenting the state budget for 2022-23 in Raipur.
Baghel also promised free electricity to farmers in a budget that breached an allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore for the next fiscal.
The Old Pension Scheme, the implementation of which Baghel had agreed to consider following an internal party huddle with leadersRahul GandhiandPriyanka Gandhi Vadralast month, is a crucial announcement that provides social and economic security to the employees of the state. The old scheme will replace the New Pension Scheme (NPS) for employees appointed on and after January 1, 2004, and will benefit about three lakh employees of the state.
Following through on his promise to implement the ‘Chhattisgarh model’ of development that puts the rural economy at the heart of all development initiatives, Baghels budget also raised payouts under the Rajiv Gandhi Bhoomiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per month.
Baghel, who made a statement by carrying the state budget in a briefcase fashioned out of by-products of cow dung also announced on Tuesday that Gothans, cow sheds and agri-processing hubs, will be developed asMahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park. He said processing units will be set up for value addition of local food products and minor forest produce.
As a part of this initiative, assistance will be also given to local youth for setting up small and Cottage industries related to bamboo and wooden crafts, Metal-crafts”>Metal Crafts and other handicrafts.