Even during Covid, C’garh economy grew: Baghel

Covid-19 affected the economy of the entire country but there was no shortage of employment or food during the pandemic in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Monday.

Chhattisgarh’s economy remained strong and dynamic even during this challenging time because of government schemes which benefitted farmers, forest dwellers and villagers, an official communication said.

Baghel was addressing a virtual programme held here when he performed bhumi pujan of construction works worth nearly Rs 592 crores, the statement said.

These include projects worth Rs 308.31 crores for Raigarh district and Rs 283.70 crores for Jashpur district.

The Chief Minister spoke to the beneficiaries of various schemes in both the districts.

He said both Raigarh and Jashpur have a lot of potential for horticulture crops along with agriculture. Besides paddy, Kodo-Kutki, pear, cashew, litchi and strawberry are being produced in Jashpur.

Now preparations are on to cultivate apple in Jashpur, he added. Tea is also cultivated in Jashpur.

The government is making elaborate arrangements to increase production of Jawaphool rice of Lailunga in Raigarh district and to export and sell it on the online platform, he said.

The Chief Minister said that now forest produce has become a major factor of change in Chhattisgarh. Individual and community forest right pattas and forest resource rights have been awarded to the forest dwellers.

Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said that despite the corona crisis, development works worth Rs 4,446 crores have been completed in 16 districts in the last one week.