Raman Govt demands Special Package for Bastar

     New Delhi, January 16, 2013: After ruling Chhattisgarh for nine years, BJP government in Chhattisgarh today demanded a special package for Bastar region due to poor health condition of people and Maoists presence in that area.

     “Bastar region should be notified in the next Union Budget as a Special area like the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput districts of Odisha or Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh as the entire area is worst affected by left wing extremism and ranked low in human development indicators,” Chhattisgarh Commercial Tax and Health Minister Amar Agrawal told a high level meeting here.

     Agrawal was addressed the Pre-Budget meeting of the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

     Agrawal also re-iterated the statement of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh to oppose the direct cash transfer scheme of the Centre.

     The direct cash transfer scheme would not work as the remote area was lacking any banking facility, he said adding also cash transfer scheme can never be an alternate to PDS (public distribution system).

     The Commercial Tax Minister also demanded the Centre to leave it to the state to design and implementation of all developmental schemes and all funds for centrally sponsored schemes should be allocated through the state government.