Union Finance Minister chairs Pre-Budget consultation with Finance Ministers of States, Chhattisgarh chief minister Shivraj proposal in the free budget meeting, demands to transfer call reality amount of 4140 crores to the state soon

  New Delhi, Chhattisgarh. Asal Baat News. The Union Finance Minister held the pre-budget consultations with the Finance Ministers of States...

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New Delhi, Chhattisgarh.

Asal Baat News.

The Union Finance Minister held the pre-budget consultations with the Finance Ministers of States and Union Territories (with Legislature) here today. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers of State (Finance), Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Finance Ministers, Ministers and Senior Officers from the States/Union Territories and the Union Government.In this meeting Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel  reiterated the state’s demand of refund of NPS amount, GST compensation and transferring of the amounts collected as 'additional levy' from coal block companies.

During the pre-budget meeting held at Manekshaw Centre Delhi, the chief minister gave several proposals and suggestions regarding the General Budget 2023-24. The meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was attended by Finance Ministers of other states.

Demanding refund of NPS amount, the chief minister said that the state government has restored old pension scheme in Chhattisgarh for securing the future of government employees and their families. He added that Rs 17240 crore deposited with NSDL till March 31 should be returned so that it can be put in the General Provident Fund of the employees. 

Mr. Baghel further informed the Union minister that the state government's share will be deposited in a separate pension fund, which will be used to meet pensionary obligations in future. Along with this, it will be invested in Government of India and State Government securities.

The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh had requested to continue the system of GST compensation grant for the next five years after June 2022, but it was not increased. He demanded an amount of 1875 crores for GST compensation.

He also urged to transfer the coal royalty amount of Rs 4140 crore to the state at the earliest. At the same time, he requested to release the amount of 1288 crores spent on central security forces and 313 crores spent by the state government on 4 special and Indian defense forces deployed in the state.Reffering that the year 2023 has also been declared by the United Nations as the 'International Year of Millet', the chief minister said that Kodo, Kutki and Ragi (Millets) are mainly cultivated in Chhattisgarh and urged the Center to declare minimum support price for Kodo and Kutki crops to promote Millets crops.

He also demanded setting up of marketing centers on the lines of C-Mart so that agriculture, handicrafts and minor forest produce products could be promoted.

The Chief Minister also gave suggestions in the meeting regarding revision of royalty rates of major minerals, incentive grants to states with better financial management, continuation of special assistance scheme, starting of International Cargo Terminal in Raipur, increase in central schemes.

The Chief Minister said that in the year 2022-23, a target has been given to supply 57 lakh metric tonnes of Arva and 4 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice in the central pool and also requested the Central Government to increase the target of procurement of par-boiled rice  to 14 lakh metric tonnes. Along with this, he also demanded to ensure availability of new jute gunny bags to the state.

The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, welcomed all the participants to the meeting and informed the importance of this particular consultation for the ensuing Budget.

Most of the participants thanked the Union Finance Minister for financially supporting their States/Union Territories by enhancing borrowing limits, providing two advanced devolution installments and  through Special Assistance for capital expenditure. The participants also gave numerous suggestions to the Union Finance Minister for inclusion in the Budget Speech.  Union Finance Minister thanked the participants for their inputs and suggestions towards Budget 2023-24 and assured  to examine each of the proposals.