Raipur: In a first, a handwritten budget was presented in the Chhattisgarh state assembly on Monday, March 3. The 100 page handwritten budget speech was tabled by Finance Minister (FM) OP Choudhary, marking a historic moment for the state.
The budget for the financial year 2025-26 in which the government made a whopping allocation of Rs 1.65 lakh crore is based on “GATI” i.e. Good Governance, Accelerating Infrastructure, Technology and Industrial Growth, informed the minister.
One of the significant aspect of the budget is that it is expected to increase the income of the state by 11 per cent without any new taxation in place. The government has allocated Rs26,341 crore for Cap-Ex, which is around18 per cent more than what it was in the previous budget. The allocation is expected to boost the infrastructure work and development, benefitting the residents.
During his budget speech the FM announced the launch of “Atal Monitoring Portal” for accurate monitoring and efficient implementation of the schemes by allocating funds of Rs10 crore alongside launching “Mukhyamantri Sushashan Fellowship Scheme” with the allocation of similar funds.
He informed that the government has made allocation of Rs 875 crore for the housing scheme which will impetus the “Pradhan Mantri (Prime Minister) Aawas Yojna (scheme),” providing pucca houses for the needy families.
छत्तीसगढ़ में पहली बार हस्तलिखित बजट पेश,
विधानसभा में आज ऐतिहासिक क्षण देखने को मिला जब वित्त मंत्री श्री ओपी चौधरी ने हस्तलिखित बजट पेश किया। यह पहला मौका है, जब राज्य में कंप्यूटर-टाइप्ड बजट की जगह खुद वित्त मंत्री के हाथों से लिखा गया बजट सदन में प्रस्तुत किया। यह बजट 100… pic.twitter.com/h4AccWgGV3
— CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) March 3, 2025
The FM further announced the strengthening of the “PM Aawas Yojna (Rural)” with a budget of Rs 8500 crore. The schemes will facilitate construction of pucca houses for the needy families in the rural areas. A special allocation of Rs 300 crore has also been made for the Special Primitive Tribal Groups (SPTG) under the scheme.
He also informed about the price cut of petrol by Rs1, stating that the people of state will be benefited by it. The FM during the speech also mentioned about a 53 per cent DA hike for the government employees.
The state government in the budget has made an allocation of Rs 4500 for the “Jal Jeevan Scheme”, aimed at providing drinking water to the households. Further Rs744 crore has been allocated to strengthen the clean drinking water system in the state under “Amrit Mission” announced Choudhary.
To strengthen the water resources in the state, a provision of RS 5000 crore has been made under the “Atal Irrigation Scheme”. The government aims to develop irrigation capacity of more than 1 lakh hectares. An additional provision of Rs 3800 crore was also made for maintenance of irrigation projects, informed the FM.
8500 करोड़ रुपये के बजट से प्रधानमंत्री आवास योजना (ग्रामीण) को सशक्त बनाया जाएगा।
ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों के समग्र विकास के लिए सरकार ने 330 करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान किया है।
ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में माताओं और महिलाओं को समर्पित महतारी सदन का निर्माण किया जाएगा।
200 करोड़ रुपये के बजट… pic.twitter.com/p3ceiJsvql
— OP Choudhary (@OPChoudhary_Ind) March 3, 2025
Choudhary said that the government has also increased the budget for the flagship “Mahtari Vandan Yojna” by 83.33 per cent and an allocation of Rs 5500 was made for it. The scheme provides a monthly financial support to the women resident of the state.
He further announced that the government will implement the “Lakhpati Didi Yojna” with an aim to make 8 lakh women financially independent under women empowerment. He emphasised that the initiative will motivate women towards self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Choudhary said that under the good governance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, food security is being strengthened. An accessible, transparent and excellent distribution system is being strengthened to ensure access to nutrition and grains to every needy person. He announced a budget allocation of Rs 5326 crore for the same.
He further informed that the government has made an allocation of Rs 10000 crores under the “Krishak Unnati Yojna” with priority on the economic strength of farmers by ensuring payments of Rs 1 lakh crore in their accounts under various schemes. The FM added that the government aims to empower farmers and cattle rearers by increasing their monthly income from Rs 25000 to Rs 100000.
Focus on development of Bastar
The government has made provision of Rs 5 crore for Bastar olympics alongside allocating Rs 10 crore for bio-diversity tourism zone. Furthermore the government has also announced to launch home stay policy to promote tourism in Bastar and Surguja. Additional allocations have also been made for Bastar marathon and yoga shivirs.
For the development of tribal communities, Choudhary informed that the government has allocated a budget of Rs 221 crores for infrastructure work in tribal areas. An Allocation of Rs 25 crore has also been made for the Niyad Nellanar (a flagship scheme launched by the government to provide benefits of government welfare schemes to residents of Maoist affected area) scheme.
The state government has made allocation of Rs 30 crore under the “Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan” while Rs 50 crore has been allocated to the energy department under PM-JUGA scheme. These schemes will expand electricity, education, health, basic facilities in tribal dominated areas, he added.
The FM further informed that over 3000 posts will be created for Bastar Fighter unit of the state police (specialised in counter-insurgency operations) to continue the offensive against the Maoists.
Other announcements made in the budget
He further announced an allocation of Rs 750 crore to strengthen the infrastructure of urban bodies of the state with expansion of roads, bridges, street lights, drinking water and other facilities under these urabn bodies for a better and organised lifer for the citizens.
The Minister also announced the launch of “Mukhymantri Griha Pravesh Samman Yojna” with an allocation of Rs 100 crores. The scheme will provide financial support to the families who are entering their new houses.
To deal with any emergency situation a Special Operation Group (SOG) will be formed on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG), while Anti-Narcotics Task Force units will be formed in 10 districts of the state, he added.
Choudhary emphasised on the conservation of ‘Devgudis’, along development of religious sites of tribal groups. He also announced a budget allocation of Rs 36 crore for the flagship Sri Ramlala Darshan Yojna”. He also announced the construction of metro route between Raipur and Durg along announcing a number of colleges and other facilities aimed at developing infrastructure in the state.
