Chhattisgarh: Planned Development & Food Security | Chhattisgarh State PSC (CGPSC) Preparation: All subjects - CGPSC (Chhattisgarh) PDF Download

Chhattisgarh's Planned Development

• Planned development stands as a crucial requisite for the systematic evolution of any developed state, outlining a sustainable trajectory inclusive of environmental and biological factors.
• Chhattisgarh, established as a new state in 2000, confronts the challenge of structured and methodical progress. The State Planning Commission in Chhattisgarh spearheads the drive towards planned development.

Evolution of State Planning Commission

The State Planning Board, initially formed in 2001, transitioned into the State Planning Commission by 2010. The commission's reorganization in 2014 saw the inclusion of various governmental and non-governmental members, each playing a distinct role.

Role and Composition of the Commission

• The Chief Minister holds the position of Chairman within the State Planning Commission, supported by a Vice Chairman.
• The Commission, post its 2014 reorganization, comprises 4 government members (ministers), 5 non-government members, 2 permanent members, 1 part-time member, and 3 permanent invitee members, showcasing a diverse and inclusive structure.

State Planning Commission's Task Forces

The State Planning Commission (SPC) has established task forces focusing on several key areas to drive socio-economic development within the state:

• Poverty Eradication: Identifying obstacles to the state's economic growth and proposing remedies to address regional disparities.
• Agriculture, Environment, and Related Sectors
• Industry, Skill Development, Employment (Technical & Higher Education)
• Social Sector

Workshops and Collaborations

• SPC has conducted workshops in collaboration with civil society groups, UNICEF, and UNDP to deliberate on state development issues, such as "Jal Samvad 2015," Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Nutrition. 
• Additionally, the SPC is engaging with higher education institutions to research and evaluate policies. Currently, the commission is drafting a Youth Policy for the state.

Challenges and Development Initiatives

• Despite facing challenging terrain, efforts are being made to ensure balanced and sustainable development across the state. Special attention is given to remote regions. The state has grappled with issues like Naxalism and tribal conflicts.
• Development initiatives in the state are multi-faceted, with a focus on different sectors of the economy. Primary sector development is prioritized due to the significant rural population (over 80%), while investments in power and industries aim to bolster the secondary sector.

Overview of Naya Raipur as a Sustainable Capital City

India's new capital city, Naya Raipur, sets a remarkable precedent in urban planning by embracing state-of-the-art green technology, particularly relying on solar power to operate. This forward-looking approach ensures minimal carbon emissions, making it an exemplary model for other cities in the country to follow.

Main Features of Naya Raipur

• Utilization of Solar Power: Naya Raipur extensively harnesses solar energy, showcasing a commitment to sustainable practices. For instance, solar panels installed on buildings and streetlights significantly reduce the city's carbon footprint.
• Green Technology Integration: The city seamlessly integrates various green technologies to support its eco-friendly infrastructure. This includes energy-efficient systems, waste management solutions, and sustainable transportation options like electric buses.
• Zero Carbon Emissions: By prioritizing green technology, Naya Raipur effectively operates with zero carbon emissions. This achievement underscores the city's dedication to environmental preservation and combating climate change.

Significance of Naya Raipur's Approach

Naya Raipur's innovative approach holds several key implications:

• Model for Sustainable Development: The city's emphasis on renewable energy and environmentally conscious practices serves as a blueprint for other urban developments nationwide. It highlights the feasibility and benefits of sustainable city planning.
• Technological Advancements: Naya Raipur's adoption of cutting-edge technologies not only ensures environmental sustainability but also fosters technological progress. This can attract investments and promote innovation within the city.

Overall, Naya Raipur's transformation into a green, technologically advanced capital city exemplifies a holistic approach to urban development, setting a high standard for future cities to emulate.

Chhattisgarh's approach to food security

• Food security is the fundamental norm of any socio-welfare economy. Given the current situation of rising poverty along with an increasing population, food security is a major concern for any state.
• The Chhattisgarh government enacted the Food Security Act in 2012. It was passed on December 21, 2012, by the State Assembly, unopposed, to ensure access to an adequate quantity of food and other nutritional requirements for the people of the state at affordable prices, at all times, so they can live a life of dignity.
• The Act categorizes households into four groups:
  • Antyodaya
  • Priority
  • General
  • Excluded households
• The priority households are entitled to a monthly public distribution system (PDS) provision of 35 kg of rice, wheat flour, pulses, gram, and iodized salt at subsidized prices. The new Act aims to make the already acclaimed PDS more comprehensive. Nearly 90% of the provisions included in the Act were already covered under the PDS.
• Only about 10% of the state's population — including those who pay income tax, households in non-scheduled areas owning more than 4 hectares of irrigated land or 8 hectares of non-irrigated land, and households in urban areas owning a pucca house with an area exceeding 1,000 sq. ft. and liable to pay property tax — are exempted from the PDS.
• There are 11,000 PDS shops, mostly run by self-help groups, located across 27 districts in the state.
• The Act is designed to benefit 42 lakh families residing in the state. It also covers families headed by a destitute, a widow, or a differently-abled person, as well as poor children living in hostels/ashrams, pregnant women, and those affected by disasters.
• The decision to redefine beneficiaries under the state’s food security scheme is in response to the significant burden on the exchequer, given that 90% of the state’s 2.5 crore population is currently entitled to subsidized food. Additionally, there has been significant diversion of PDS grain to the open market on a large scale.
• Currently, approximately 1.6 million tons of rice and about half a million tons of wheat are distributed through the PDS in the state annually.
• “Since the passage of the food security legislation, many joint families have started to split to receive higher amounts of food grains as entitlements under the PDS,” said Anil Tuteja, MD, Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation, in a statement to the Financial Express.
• The Chhattisgarh government’s food subsidy budget is estimated to increase to ₹4,600 crores in the current fiscal year, up from ₹3,500 crores in the last fiscal year.
• Since the passage of the food security legislation in December 2012, the state’s food subsidy budget has increased significantly — it was ₹900 crores in 2012-13.
• Under the state food security legislation, about 16.4 lakh "most vulnerable" Antyodaya households receive 35 kg of grain, mostly rice and wheat, at ₹1 per kg, along with 2 kg of iodized salt for free and 2 kg of black gram and pulses at ₹5 and ₹10 per kg, respectively.
• In addition, the 46 lakh "priority households," primarily consisting of landless laborers, small and marginal farmers, workers in the urban informal sector, and households of construction workers, are entitled to 35 kg of food grains at ₹2 per kg. They also receive free salt, black gram, and pulses at the same quantities and prices as the Antyodaya households.