CM Bhupesh Baghel Will Restore Old Pension Scheme

Baghel also proposes to provide free electricity to farmers for agricultural work

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday presented the state budget for the year 2022-23 as the finance minister and made several historic announcements, including restoration of old pension scheme, waiver of examination fees to youth preparing for competitive examinations, increasing the amount of Rajiv Gandhi Bhoomiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana, and free electricity to farmers for agricultural work.

The focus has been on rural, unemployed youth, farmers and service finance employees in the budget.

The chief minister reached the Assembly with a bag made of cow dung to present the budget. In his speech, Baghel said that this budget is a strong attempt to realize Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of taking the benefits of welfare schemes of the government to the last person of the society.

The chief minister announced that the old pension scheme will be restored in place of NPS in Chhattisgarh. The move will increase the pressure on the BJP government at the Centre and the state governments to restore the old scheme on lines of Rajasthan. The government employees of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and other central and northern states have long demanded to implement the old pension scheme.

This scheme was to be implemented in Chhattisgarh before Rajasthan, but due to the increased work load on Baghel as a senior observer in the UP elections, the assembly session of the state started late from February to March. In the meantime, an announcement was made to implement the old pension scheme in Rajasthan.

At the same time, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is also under tremendous pressure regarding this. Here, not only the opposition Congress, but some BJP MLAs are also supporting the demand for restoration of old pension of employees’ organizations.

The ‘Chhattisgarh model’ based on the rural economy has once again been reflected in the budget. The initiative of Rahul Gandhi to put money in the pockets of the poor has been carried forward in this budget. The provision amount of Rajiv Gandhi Bhumiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana has been increased from Rs 6000 to Rs 7000. At the time of the launch of the scheme, Rahul Gandhi had asked the chief minister of Chhattisgarh to increase the amount, which has been implemented in the budget. Many people have agreed that the effect of nationwide recession was not visible in Chhattisgarh. One of the major reasons for this was the scheme of direct cash transfer to the people.

At the same time, a big relief has also been given to the unemployed youth of Chhattisgarh in the budget. Now no fee will be charged from the candidates in the competitive examinations conducted by the Chhattisgarh Professional Board and the State Public Service Commission.

It was also announced that mining will not be allowed without the permission of panchayats.

Hindi medium schools will also start from next year.