Farmers, Poor, and Workers’ Development is Our Priority: Minister Baghel

Raipur, March 10

After discussions in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, the grant requests of ₹9,362 crore for the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection departments, headed by Minister Shri Dayal Das Baghel, were passed by voice vote today. Several legislators, including Shri Ajay Chandrakar, Shri Punnulal Mohle, Smt. Bhavana Bohra, Smt. Gomati Sai, Shri Sushant Shukla, and Shri Rajesh Munat, participated in the discussion.

In response, Food Minister Shri Dayal Das Baghel emphasized that Chhattisgarh is an agrarian state, and the government is committed to the development of farmers, the poor, and all sections of society. He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the government has fulfilled Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s guarantee by purchasing paddy at the rate of 21 quintals per acre from registered farmers. This Kharif season, 25,49,592 registered farmers sold a record 149.25 lakh metric tons of paddy, the highest procurement since the state’s formation. The government has paid ₹34,348 crore to farmers as the minimum support price for their paddy.

Minister Baghel further stated that this year, farmers sold 77,151 quintals more paddy compared to the previous year, with total procurement increasing by 4.32 lakh tons. Additionally, farmers sold paddy cultivated over 28.76 lakh acres. Paddy procurement was conducted through biometric authentication at 2,739 procurement centers, and most farmers received payments within 72 hours of selling their paddy. Strict action was taken against illegal transportation and bogus sales in procurement committees, leading to 1,317 cases being registered and the seizure of 69,251 quintals of paddy and 221 vehicles.

Minister Baghel highlighted that along with record paddy procurement, the government is ensuring rapid disposal of paddy through custom milling. Out of the 149.25 lakh metric tons procured, 98.37 lakh metric tons (66%) have already been sent for custom milling.

He emphasized that the Food Department is directly connected to the public, and the government, under Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership, is committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that no poor person goes to bed hungry. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended until December 2028, benefiting over 2.5 crore families in the state. Chhattisgarh has also decided to continue providing free rice to 72.29 lakh priority and Antyodaya ration cardholders until December 2028.

To combat malnutrition, the government has introduced fortified rice distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS), mid-day meals, and supplementary nutrition programs. Fortified rice, enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B-12, is proving effective in addressing anemia and nutrient deficiencies.

For tribal and remote areas, the government has expanded the scheme of providing subsidized chickpeas (chana) to include Madha regions, in addition to Bastar and Surguja divisions. Currently, over 25 lakh families receive 5.8 lakh metric tons of chickpeas per month, with a budget allocation of ₹400 crore. Under the Amrit Mission, Antyodaya, destitute, and BPL ration cardholders receive iodized salt every month, with ₹100 crore allocated for this initiative.

Minister Baghel informed the Assembly that to improve PDS infrastructure, 136 new fair-price shops have been opened to ensure easy access to ration supplies. Additionally, new ration shops are being established in areas with over 500 ration cardholders, creating employment opportunities for self-help groups and cooperatives.

In the financial year 2025, 4.73 lakh new ration cards were issued, and 6.13 lakh new members were added to ration cards. The state currently operates 13,907 fair-price shops, all equipped with e-pass machines. On average, 96% of beneficiaries receive ration supplies through Aadhaar authentication. Under the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme, cardholders can now select their preferred ration shops. In January 2025, 9.2 lakh ration cardholder families collected ration from shops other than their original ones for convenience.

To accommodate the bumper foodgrain production in Chhattisgarh, continuous efforts are being made to enhance storage capacity. The Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation operates 139 branches, with a self-constructed storage capacity of 24.77 lakh tons. Additionally, new warehouses with a capacity of 1.95 lakh tons are under construction. A plan to build 10.30 lakh tons of additional storage for paddy procurement has been developed, with a budget allocation of ₹300 crore.

The Minister also mentioned that to ensure transparency in weight and measurement systems, verification processes are being continuously improved, and online verification services have been introduced. In the last financial year, 314 weight and measurement verification camps were organized, verifying the equipment of 88,121 traders, generating ₹10.76 crore in revenue for the state.