Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel performs virtual bhoomipujan of about 300 Rural Industrial Parks
Team News Riveting
Raipur, October 2
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the ambitious ‘Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park Scheme’ of the Chhattisgarh government and laid the foundation stone of 300 rural industrial parks in different districts of the state.
On the initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Gauthans of the state are being developed as Rural Industrial Parks to provide employment and additional income sources to the poor rural families of the state. Various livelihood activities are being conducted here with the joint effort of the state government and the rural populace.
Addressing the program, Chief Minister said that “Rural Industrial Parks will play a vital role in realizing Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Gram Swaraj by creating self-reliant villages. He further said that Gandhi ji has always stressed on the need to give respect for labour intensive village based small scale industries which have the potential to improve rural and urban economy as well. Our government is also committed to do the same. The state government is making and operating schemes keeping the individual at the center,the motive of the scheme is to improve an individuals financial condition which in turn effects the society in a positive way.”
The Chief Minister informed that 300 Rural Industrial Parks are being developed in the first phase. For this, one to three acres of land has been reserved for the park in Gauthans. In the first phase, two Gauthans in each development block are being developed as Rural Industrial Parks. A provision of Rs 600 crore has been made for this scheme in the budget of the state government. An amount of Rs 1 crore each has been provided to all the approved rural industrial parks. With this amount, arrangements are being made for the training of youth. These parks will be equipped with electricity and water facilities, working shed and approach road.
Units for the manufacture of vermi compost, poultry, goat rearing, agricultural and horticultural crops and processing of minor forest produce are also being set up in the Gauthans developed under the Suraji Gaon Yojana. Along with this, flour-mill, pulse mill, oil mills are also being established. A large number of women and youth of self-help groups in rural areas are getting good means of income along with employment by engaging in such income generating activities . Due to which their financial condition is getting better and better each day. Panchayat and Rural Development Department has been made the nodal department for this scheme.
The programme started with the Chief Minister paying floral tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, the former Prime Minister Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and Chhattisgarh Mahtari. Baghel also released the ‘Logo’ of the Rural Industrial Park.