Raipur. Many important decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai –
- In the cabinet meeting, it has been decided to conduct direct election of mayors and chairpersons of municipal corporations of the state. For this, in the meeting, the draft of Ordinance 2024 regarding amendments in various sections of Chhattisgarh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 and Chhattisgarh Municipal Corporation Act 1961 (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (provisions related to direct election and reservation) was discussed. Was approved.
It is noteworthy here that in the undivided Madhya Pradesh state, before 1999, mayors and chairpersons of municipalities in municipal corporations were elected directly. The then government had decided to conduct the election of mayors of urban bodies and presidents of municipalities indirectly, the notification of which was published in the Gazette on 12 December 2019.
In relation to the representation and reservation of Other Backward Classes in the elections of three-tier Panchayats and urban bodies, the Ministry of Backward Classes and Minorities Department of the Government of Chhattisgarh has relaxed the lump sum limit of 25 percent reservation in local bodies to 50 percent in proportion to the number of Other Backward Classes. The provision of reservation up to the maximum limit of percentage reservation has been approved as per the recommendations received in the report of the Backward Classes Welfare Commission.
- Under the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, it was decided to amend various sections to amend the provisions related to the representation and reservation of Other Backward Classes in the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions.
- The Council of Ministers gave permission to the Civil Supplies Corporation to procure the necessary gram through the NeML e-auction platform for distribution to the eligible beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System.
It is noteworthy here that under the Public Distribution System, Chhattisgarh Government supplies 2 kg gram at the rate of Rs 5 per kg per month to Antyodaya and priority ration card holders living in all the scheduled development blocks and Moda packet areas of the state. Presently 30 lakh 22 thousand families are being benefited under the Chana Distribution Scheme by the Chhattisgarh Government. The state requires 6046 tonnes of gram per month and 72 thousand 52 tonnes of gram per year for distribution. Chana has been procured by the Civil Supplies Corporation. In order to supply high quality gram to the beneficiaries through the Chhattisgarh Government’s gram distribution scheme, the Council of Ministers gave permission to the Civil Supplies Corporation to do so through the NeML e-auction platform.
- Industry status for tourism In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, it was decided to give industry status to tourism in the state on the proposal of Chhattisgarh Tourism Department for the promotion and planned development of tourism in the state.
It is worth noting that under the new Industrial Policy 2024-30 of the Government of Chhattisgarh, apart from the inclusion in tourism, entertainment and other social service sectors, the Government of India and Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2020 also provide grants like normal industries on making minimum fixed capital investment for tourism projects. Provision for exemption/concession has been made.
Giving industry status to tourism will help in attracting and encouraging private investment in adventure, water tourism, medical and wellness tourism, agro tourism, tourism units and land bank in the state. This will encourage stakeholders. Tourism related infrastructure will be developed. Capital investment related to tourism will increase. Facilities suitable for national and international tourists will be developed in the state. Huge employment opportunities will be created in the tourism sector in the state.