Universal Donor
The state does not discriminate in doling out the benefits of its many schemes
Whichever government has been in power in Chhattisgarh, a state that came into being on November 1, 2000, it has stuck to the slogan of inclusive development. Besides, most policy initiatives launched in the state in the past few years, be it the CM Health Insurance Scheme or the utilisation of funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), have been universal in nature. The health insurance scheme, which covers medical expenses up to Rs 50,000 and is often seen as a precursor to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, does not distinguish between beneficiaries on the basis of caste or economic status.
Some 69 per cent of the total population gets health cover.
Chhattisgarh has also been a pioneer in utilising its DMF funds. Created through an amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2015, DMFs were set up to work for the benefit of persons in districts affected by mining works. Funded through contributions from miners, the DMF has brought development to tribal districts, many of them Maoismaffected. In Dantewada, home to the famous Bailadila iron ore mines, for example, the DMF has helped set up an entire education city at Jawanga, with schools for regular and specially abled children and vocational training centres, besides a super speciality hospital at the district headquarters.
Even the waiving of farm loans in Chhattisgarh has been universal as has been the revamped public distribution system. Earlier, under the Antyodyay scheme, each family got 35 kg rice at Re 1 per kg. In the tweaked PDS, even APL citizens of the state are eligible to get rice at Rs 10 per kg. Unlike neigbouring MP, where the state government debarred income tax payee farmers, government employees and politicians from having their agriculture loans written off, all farmers in Chhattisgarh who had taken loans would eventually have them waived. ■