Cabinet has decided to cancel all CSIDC rate contracts by the end of July
Cabinet has decided to reinstate the government procurement process through GeM portal system
Previous government had prohibited purchases from the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal
Raipur, 9 July 2024
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai’s cabinet made a significant decision to combat irregularities and corruption in government procurement on Tuesday. In response to numerous corruption complaints regarding purchases through the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC), the cabinet has decided to cancel all CSIDC rate contracts by the end of July.
It is important to note that the previous government had prohibited purchases from the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, resulting in increased procurement challenges, compromised quality, and a rise in corruption allegations. Shri Sai government has addressed this issue with urgency, aiming not only to curb corruption but also to restore transparency in government procurement by reinstating the GeM portal system. This move ensures a transparent process for acquiring government materials, marking another step towards good governance by Shri Vishnu Deo Sai government.
The Cabinet has decided to amend the Chhattisgarh Government Store Purchase Rules, 2002 (as revised in 2022). All the state government departments are to procure materials, goods, and services available on the Government of India’s GeM website, following the prescribed procedures. Any additional requirements will need the consent of the Finance Department. The existing rate contracts of CSIDC will be cancelled at the end of this month to prevent corruption.
At a cabinet meeting held at Mahanadi Bhawan and chaired by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, several significant decisions were made. To improve the quality of the education system in Chhattisgarh, the cabinet decided to extensively implement the National Education Policy-2020 issued by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. According to this policy, children will receive education in the local language or dialect up to the 5th standard. It also emphasises ensuring education for all from pre-primary to 12th standard. The existing 10+2 academic structure will be replaced with a 5+3+3+4 structure to provide equitable and inclusive education.
The Cabinet has decided to approve the procedural format for the transfer of occupied forest land to the heirs in the revenue or forest records upon the death of individual forest right holders under the Forest Rights Act. This will include geo-referencing of the map and the integration of the plot’s Aadhaar number, which will be used for transfer, demarcation, and division.
In the recruitment process for various nursing and technical positions under the Chhattisgarh Armed Auxiliary Platoon Commander (Nursing), the maximum age limit will be relaxed by 5 years for the year 2023. This relaxation will be applicable once, providing an additional 5 years to the unreserved category and further 5 years to the already relaxed age limit for the reserved categories.
The state government has established a separate “Good Governance and Convergence Department” for the effective implementation of government welfare policies, good governance, and addressing public issues. This department will include e-Review, e-Public Service Guarantee, and Digital Secretariat. The Cabinet has approved the amendment of “Chhattisgarh Government Work (Allocation) Rules” for this purpose, while shifting these branches from the General Administration Department.
The cabinet has decided to extend the registration date by three years for providing housing to homeless, economically weaker, and lower-class families in Naya Raipur. Under Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojana, affordable housing facilities are being developed in Naya Raipur, and the registration date to avail this scheme has been extended from March 31, 2024, to March 31, 2027. This decision is expected to increase the registration possibilities for vacant houses.
Naya Raipur Atal Nagar Development Authority has been authorised to prepare a detailed project report for the establishment of the Chhattisgarh State Capital Region and the related authority, akin to the National Capital Region. The Housing and Environment Department has been designated as the administrative department for this purpose. A provision of Rs 5 crore has been made for this project in the budget of current financial year.
The Cabinet has decided to obtain approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, to grant a non-functional pay scale equivalent to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to six officers serving as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in the Indian Forest Service, Chhattisgarh cadre, from 1992 to 1994, effective from January 1, 2024. It has also decided to grant a one-time relaxation of one year for the minimum five-year service period required for promotion from Superintending Engineer (Civil) to Chief Engineer (Civil).
Cabinet approved construction of 47,090 houses under Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojana (Rural)
Under Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojana (Rural), the Cabinet has approved the construction of 47,090 houses for homeless families in Chhattisgarh. In the survey conducted from April 1 to April 30, 2023, 59.79 lakh families were covered in the state, identifying 47,090 families as homeless, whose names are not included in the permanent waitlist of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census. These families will be provided housing under Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojana (Rural).
