Chhattisgarh: Fastest Developing State of India Dr. Raman Singh Chief Minister Our state Chhattisgarh was formed after a long political and cultural struggle. This region with rich cultural heritage, which was once known as Dakshin Kaushal, occupied 30 per cent of the undivided Madhya Pradesh. Despite being blessed with resources in abundance, it was one of the most backward and neglected areas. The demand for separate state was raised time and again, but it was our Ex-Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whose tenure Chhattisgarh state came into existence on November 1, 2000. The state had to go through teething troubles in initial years, before its journey to create history commenced. Disappointed with the leadership during the initial few years after formation of state, people of Chhattisgarh entrusted me with their aspirations and hopes and elected me as Chief Minister of the state. It was undoubtedly a great responsibility. Chhattisgarh was superior to many states in terms of its natural and mineral resources. The state has nearly 44% of its area under forest cover. Its cultural, historical and archaeological glory has been incomparable. But sadly, the state was still among one of the most backward ones in the country and it used to get highlight mostly for the incidents of naxal violence. When I took charge as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, I had two major goals in my mind- 1) Optimal utilization of resources to ensure all-round socio-economic development and thereby, transform its image at national-level, 2) To uproot naxalism from state to ensure secured and peaceful environment in the affected areas. Our collective persistent and sincere efforts have resulted in expansion of state’s budget size from 64 december 31, 2016 vol lI no 53 EPW Economic & Political Weekly CHARTING THE GROWTH STORY OF CHHATTISGARH: THEN AND NOW BUDGET SIZE (CR) PER CAPITA DEBT TO GSDP INCOME 70,058 25.40% 81,756 15.02% 12,000 7,328 2002- 03 2016- 17 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 TAX REVENUE TO Social expenditure % GSDP GSDP Development expenditure % GSDP 10.00% 8.50% 21.4% 6.80% 17.4% 14.7% 5.00% 11.9% 0.00% 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003-04 2015-16 Rs 7,328 crores in year 2003-03 to Rs 70,058 crore in year 2016-17. Our focused approach to generate employment opportunities as well as skilled manpower, has resulted in increase of per capita average annual income from nearly Rs 12,000 in year 2003-04 to nearly Rs 81,756 in year 2015- 16. Chhattisgarh has undergone significant progress in every key sector like health, education, infrastructure, skill development, energy, agriculture and commerce & industry. In year 2003-04, Chhattisgarh had debt to GSDP ratio of 25.4% but today Chhattisgarh’s debt to GSDP ratio has shrunk to 15.03% (2015-16) which in the lowest in the country. Lower debt level was result of our effort to accelerate tax recovery. Consequently, tax-revenue (% of GDP) has increased from 6.8% in year 2003-04 to 8.5% at present. Chhattisgarh is among the top six states of the country in terms of tax-revenue (% of GDP). As per Reserve Bank of India, state’s development expenditure to GSDP ratio has increased from 17.4% to 21.4%, under our government’s tenure. Presently, Chhattisgarh holds the top rank in terms of development expenditure to GSDP ratio. Likewise, social expenditure in terms of GSDP has also increased from 11.9% to 14.7%. Chhattisgarh ranks second in terms of social expenditure. We have paid equal attention towards development of infrastructure, which is evident from Chhattisgarh’s top ranking in the country in terms of capital expenditure to GSDP ratio. It is the result of optimal utilization of resources by the government that despite struggling through drought in year 2015-16, Chhattisgarh’s estimated GSDP growth is 7.07% which is comparable to nation’s GDP growth. Economic & Political Weekly EPW december 31, 2016 vol lI no 53 65 HEALTH SERVICES Chhattisgarh Government, to achieve the goal of ‘Healthy Chhattisgarh’, has launched a campaign for the quantum leap in state of health services. We believe that health services are one of the basic needs of society where quality and ease of access are equally important.With this philosophy we started free health insurance scheme for all the families in Chhattisgarh. Under National Health Insurance Scheme and Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme, we have touched nearly 40.25 lakh families providing insurance cover of Rs 30 thousand to each. Health services for women and children have been developed and improved upon consistently. Our efforts are clearly illustrated in gradual improvement in key health related indicators. ● Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased from 76 per 1,000 to 43, whereas Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) has decreased from 407 per lakh to 221 per lakh. Total vaccination has also increased from 56% to 74% and institutional deliveries have risen from 14% to 74%. Prevalence rate of leprosy has significantly decreased from 7.72 to 2.8 per thousand. ● We have paid special attention towards expansion of health services and development of related infrastructure. In our tenure, number of district hospitals has been increased from 7 to 24, community health centers from 114 to 155, primary health centres from 512 to 790 and number of sub-health centers has been increased from 3,818 to 5,186. 66 december 31, 2016 vol lI no 53 EPW Economic & Political Weekly ● Dial-108 Sanjeevani express has saved lives of total 10 lakh 73 thousand people till date. ● Mahtari Express Scheme, which we initiated on 23 August 2013 to provide emergency ambulance service to pregnant women in need, has been availed by nearly 12 lakh beneficiaries. ● Under ChirayuAbhiyan, we have conducted health check-up of 97 lakh children and provided medical treatment facility to more than 16 lakh children. ● Under Mukhyamantri Bal Bhavishya Suraksha Yojana, 6,370 children have been benefitted and under Mukhyamantri Bal Shravan Yojana 112 children have been benefited. ● Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been established at 98 places in Chhattisgarh for generic medicines. ● This year regional virology lab has been established in Jagdalpur Medical College. THE IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH SERVICES: THEN AND NOW IMR (PER 1000) MMR (PER LAKH) VACCINATION 74% 76 407 56% 221 34 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 INSTITUTIONAL PREVALENCE DISTRICT DELIVERY RATE OF LEPROSY HOSPITAL (PER 1000) 74% 24 7.7 2.8 7 14% 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 CHCS PHCS 155 790 512 114 2003- 04 2015- 16 2003- 04 2015- 16 Economic & Political Weekly EPW december 31, 2016 vol lI no 53 67 ● In last 10 years, we have established four new medical colleges in state including medical colleges in Bastar (Jagdalpur) (year 2006), Raigarh (year 2013) and Sarguja (Ambikapur) (2016). Including this the total number of medical colleges in state has reached six. Besides, trauma units have been set up in each medical colleges of the state. Consequently, my dream of establishing medical colleges in all four directions of the state has come true. ● DKS building in Raipur has also been upgraded as Super-Specialty Hospital. We have established State Cancer Hospital in Bilaspur. Our achievement has been recognized by number of awards in the field of health services. In year 2015, Chhattisgarh was awarded third prize for its excellent performance at national-level in the field of infant security, second prize for infant protection and third prize for population stabilization in year 2013. In year 2009, Chhattisgarh was awarded JRD Data Award for better performance in Mother-Infant Indicators. 40.2lakhs 10.7lakhs 12.0lakhs Families covered under NHIS Lives saved under Sanjeevani Services provided under Mahtari and CMHIS Express Express Scheme 97.0lakhs 16.0lakhs 6,370 Health inspection under Health treatment under benefitted under Mukhyamantri ChirayuAbhiyan ChirayuAbhiyan Bal Bhavishya Suraksha Yojana FOOD AND NUT R I TION SECURITY As Chief Minister of the state, it is my endeavor to provide necessary basic facilities to people of my state during my tenure, I have made significant efforts in direction towards providing food and nutrition security to people of my state. Chhattisgarh has become the first state of the country to provide legal right to food and nutrition security to its people. We have developed an excellent public distribution system, which has been recognized at appreciated at national level. Many states have adopted Chhattisgarh’s PDS model. Chhattisgarh has received five awards for its public distribution system till date. My Government has strived hard to achieve vision for state. It is the result of this dedication that the number of fair price shops in state has significantly increased from 8,637 to 12,349. PDS coverage has expanded to 84%. More than 58 households are provided rice at nominal cost of Rs 1 and refined iodized salt free of cost. In scheduled areas, grams are distributed to beneficiaries at subsidized rate. We have digitized, fair price shops of all the districts to ensure better management 68 december 31, 2016 vol lI no 53 EPW Economic & Political Weekly and monitoring. Chhattisgarh has an excellent system of paddy procurement on support price. 1,333 cooperative societies in state procure paddy from farmers on support price in 1,986 procurement centers. Paddy Procurement Process has also been computerized to ensure transparency. WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT We believe that women empowerment is a continuous process and it should be in tandem with changing scenarios Dial-181 women of society. We have launched Dial-181 helpline, Dial-1098 Child Helpline and women helpline to help the women in 'Sakhi' One Stop Centre crisis.