Baghel urges Amit Shah to resume special assistance to Maoist affected districts

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also said that discontinuing GST compensation will have an impact on the state’s economic condition.

Published on: Apr 13, 2022, 19:57:07 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel met union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the resources of the state and also urged to resume the special assistance package granted to seven Maoist-affected districts, officials familiar with the matter said

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel met union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI)

During the meeting, the chief minister also raised various issues including increasing communication facilities in Maoist-affected areas, deployment of two more battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Bastar and formation of ‘Bastariya’ Battalion, officials said.

“Discontinuing the GST compensation to the states will have an impact on the state’s economic condition. If funds are not available for development work in Naxal-affected states, it will have a great impact on the state’s economy,” said a statement issued by Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department, quoting Baghel.

Baghel also discussed the issues related to the development of Maoist- affected districts such as expansion of road network, livelihood development, development of banks and infrastructure etc.

₹33 crore was given to each of the seven Maoist-affected districts every year under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme of the union government.

Baghel said that iron ore is available in abundance in Bastar region and if iron ore is made available at 30 percent discount to the steel plants to be set up in Bastar, then investment of hundreds of crores and thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created there, according to the statement issued by the public relations department.

“Due to difficult geographical areas, grid electricity is yet to reach in large part. The fulfillment of the energy requirement of the common man and their economic development is possible only by the installation of a large number of solar power plants,” Baghel said.

The chief minister also urged for grants to build cold storage units for the processing and sale of minor forest produce, forest medicines and various types of horticulture crops in the forest areas, officials added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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