A Chhattisgarh cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, concluded with several significant decisions.
The cabinet approved measures to support students from communities that were earlier excluded from the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes lists. Students from the Dhari Korwa, Baghel Kshatriya, Sansari Uraon, and Pabiya, Paviya, Paviya communities will now be eligible for benefits equivalent to those provided to Scheduled Tribes, while students from the Domra caste will receive benefits comparable to those for Scheduled Castes. These benefits will include state-funded scholarships and stipends, as well as access to hostel and ashram accommodations.
A notable decision was the endorsement of the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at boosting renewable energy and offering financial relief to electricity consumers. Under this scheme, the state government will provide financial assistance for the installation of solar rooftop plants on residential premises. The Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) will manage the implementation of this program. The amount of financial support will vary depending on the capacity of the solar plant, with a higher subsidy for larger capacity plants. For example, a 1 kW plant will receive a total subsidy of ₹45,000, while plants of 3 kW or more will be eligible for ₹1,08,000. A similar support system is being considered for housing societies and residential welfare associations. The state aims to install a substantial number of solar power plants in the coming years, which is expected to have a significant financial impact.
To bolster wildlife conservation, specifically focusing on tigers, and to foster eco-tourism, the cabinet decided to establish the “Chhattisgarh Tiger Foundation Society.” This society will operate under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, with a primary objective to safeguard the diminishing tiger population in Chhattisgarh. The society will be self-funded, relying on donations. It will actively participate in tiger and wildlife conservation efforts, promote eco-tourism in collaboration with local communities, and encourage environmental education, research, and training.
The cabinet also approved the merging of the “Vivekananda Institute of Social Health Welfare & Services, Chhattisgarh (Vishwas)” with the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram Narayanpur. Additionally, it was decided to allocate 100 acres of land to the Horticulture Department for the establishment of a Horticulture College in Belgaon, Bemetara district. The cabinet also approved the transfer of the “JashPure” brand, which markets herbal and mahua tea products made by women’s self-help groups in Jashpur district, to the state government or CSIDC to expand market reach and enhance marketing. This transfer will not impose any extra financial burden on the state.
In recognition of the supreme sacrifice made by police martyrs, the cabinet amended the rules to allow compassionate appointments for eligible family members of police personnel who lost their lives in Naxal violence. These appointments can now be made in any department or district of the state.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved the formation of the “State Mineral Exploration Trust” (SMET) to facilitate the organized exploration, prospecting, and infrastructural development of minor minerals in Chhattisgarh. A 2% royalty from all minor minerals will be channeled into the SMET fund to be used for exploration, infrastructure development, and technological improvements. The SMET will function similarly to the National Mineral Exploration Trust.