The Chhattisgarh Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, concluded a meeting that resulted in the approval of several crucial decisions.
The Cabinet addressed the needs of specific communities by extending benefits to students from groups initially excluded from the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes lists. This includes offering equivalent benefits to students from Dhari Korwa, Baghel Kshatriya, Sansari Uraon, and Pabiya, Paviya, Paviya communities, similar to Scheduled Tribes. Additionally, students from the Domra caste will receive benefits aligned with those for Scheduled Castes. These benefits encompass state-funded scholarships, stipends, and access to hostels and ashrams.
In a significant move to boost renewable energy and offer financial relief to electricity consumers, the Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This initiative involves state financial assistance for the installation of solar rooftop plants on homes, which will be managed by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL). The subsidy amounts will vary based on the capacity of the solar plant, with higher subsidies for larger plants. For example, a 1 kW plant will get a total subsidy of ₹45,000, whereas plants of 3 kW or more will be eligible for ₹1,08,000. Similar support is planned for housing societies and residential welfare associations. The state is targeting the installation of a substantial number of solar power plants in the coming fiscal years, with corresponding financial implications.
The Cabinet also approved the formation of the “Chhattisgarh Tiger Foundation Society” to protect wildlife, especially tigers, and promote eco-tourism. The Society, governed by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, will concentrate on conserving the declining tiger population. The society will be self-funded and will promote eco-tourism with local community involvement.
The Cabinet approved the merger of the “Vivekananda Institute of Social Health Welfare & Services, Chhattisgarh (Vishwas)” with the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram Narayanpur. It also decided to allocate 100 acres of land to the Horticulture Department for establishing a Horticulture College in Belgaon, Bemetara district. Further, the Cabinet sanctioned the transfer of the ‘JashPure’ brand, which markets herbal and mahua tea products made by women’s self-help groups in Jashpur district, to the state government or CSIDC to facilitate broader market access and boost marketing endeavors. This brand transfer will not result in any additional financial liabilities for the state.
To honor the sacrifices of police martyrs, the Cabinet amended the rules concerning compassionate appointments to facilitate the appointment of eligible family members of police personnel who lost their lives in Naxal violence. These appointments can now be made in any department or district within the state.
Finally, the Cabinet approved the establishment of the “State Mineral Exploration Trust” (SMET) to facilitate the systematic exploration and infrastructure development of minor minerals in Chhattisgarh. A 2% royalty from all minor minerals will be deposited in the SMET fund, which will support exploration, infrastructure development, and technological advancements. The SMET will function along the lines of the National Mineral Exploration Trust.