Raipur: On Monday, the Chhattisgarh government approved a new industrial policy aimed at enhancing development in the state. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhavan in Nava Raipur.

The new policy will take effect from November 1, 2024, and will remain in place until October 31, 2029. It aligns with the 'Amritkaal: Chhattisgarh Vision @ 2047' document, which aims to foster industrial growth in the region. An official stated that the policy incorporates amendments made by the Union government in 2020 to the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, with special provisions for balanced development incentives.

To support the goals of the new industrial policy, the government will offer incentives for establishing new businesses, expanding existing ones, and other industrial activities. Investment incentives will be based on categorizing development blocks across districts into three sectors to promote comprehensive industrial growth.

The policy specifically addresses core sectors such as steel, cement, thermal power, and aluminum. It also includes attractive incentives for industries in pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, preservation of agricultural products, processing of non-timber forest products, electronics, and information technology.

In addition to the industrial policy, the cabinet approved the revival of the 'Maukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana' as part of the BJP's electoral commitments. This scheme will provide free travel for individuals aged 60 and above, as well as persons with disabilities, widows, and abandoned women, to pilgrimage sites outside the state once in their lifetime. A budget allocation of Rs 25 crore has been made for the scheme in the first supplementary budget of 2024-25.

Originally launched in 2012 during Raman Singh's tenure, the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana facilitated pilgrimage trips for 2.47 lakh beneficiaries by 2019. The program was renamed Teerth Barat Yojana under the Congress-led government in 2019 but had not conducted pilgrimages until 2023.

The cabinet also resolved to implement the National Education Policy 2020 within the state's Technical Education Department.

'Run for Unity' Highlights National Integrity in Dehradun with CM Dhami's Participation

Rozgar Mela: PM Modi Distributes 51,000+ Appointment Letters