Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 11 (HBTV): The Chhattisgarh government has presented a budget of INR 1.72 lakh crore for the financial year 2026–27, outlining plans to strengthen education, healthcare, irrigation, digital connectivity, and employment, with a special focus on Bastar and other regions previously affected by Naxal violence.
Finance Minister OP Choudhary presented the state’s third budget under the theme ‘Sankalp’.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the budget as a strong commitment to public welfare and development, saying it aims to transform Chhattisgarh into a developed state by empowering farmers, women, youth, and workers.
According to the budget, the social sector accounts for 40 percent of the total expenditure, while 36 percent has been allocated for economic development and 24 percent for administrative and general services.
The government has also proposed a green budget of INR 14,300 crore to promote environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives.
Special emphasis has been placed on the development of Surguja, Bastar, and other formerly Naxal-affected regions. The government announced the establishment of two ‘Education Cities’ in Abujhmad and Jagargunda in Bastar, with an allocation of INR 100 crore.
The budget also includes initiatives to promote sports and preserve local cultural identity in Bastar, including the organisation of the Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum. In addition, 1,500 new posts have been created for Bastar Fighters.
In the healthcare sector, the government has proposed the establishment of a super-speciality hospital in Jagdalpur and a medical college along with a medical city in Dantewada. Special recruitment drives for doctors will also be conducted to improve healthcare access in remote areas.
The irrigation sector will see the construction of a barrage on the Indravati River at an estimated cost of INR 2,024 crore, which is expected to provide irrigation facilities to an additional 32,000 hectares of land in the Bastar region.
The budget also proposes several measures aimed at the economic and social empowerment of women. These include a 50 percent exemption on registration fees for properties purchased in the names of women.
The government will launch the Rani Durgavati Yojana, under which eligible girls will receive INR 1.5 lakh upon reaching the age of 18. It also plans to implement the Mukhyamantri Lakhpati Didi Parikrama Yojana and construct 250 Mahatari Sadans to strengthen women’s social empowerment.
For the agriculture sector, the government has allocated INR 10,000 crore for the Krishak Unnati Yojana to provide financial support to farmers.
Additionally, INR 5,500 crore has been earmarked for agricultural pumps to improve irrigation infrastructure, while INR 600 crore has been allocated to support landless farming families. Another INR 100 crore will be invested in employment-oriented initiatives such as agro-based industries, agro-forest processing, rice mills, and poultry farms in Bastar and Surguja.
The budget also proposes the implementation of a cashless medical scheme for government employees. Under the scheme, employees will receive treatment at designated government and private hospitals without making cash payments. An allocation of INR 100 crore has been made for the initiative.
(ANI)