Cabinet unveils major reforms

 

 

 

In a major push to combat drug abuse, the Chhattisgarh Cabinet on Wednesday approved 100 new posts, as sanctioned in the 2025-26 state budget, to form District Level Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in 10 districts. Speaking to media at Mantralaya in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said the task forces will operate in Raipur, Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Durg, Bastar, Surguja, Kabirdham, Jashpur, Rajnandgaon, and Korba districts. The Cabinet also cleared 44 new posts for a Special Operation Group (SOG) under the Police Headquarters’ Special Branch. This elite, specially trained unit will respond swiftly to major incidents, terrorist attacks, or serious threats. Additionally, guidelines were approved to establish a state-run Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at various airports and airstrips, with private participation. The FTO will meet rising aviation demands, create youth employment, and develop facilities like aircraft recycling, helicopter bunking, and aerosports.

 

The Chhattisgarh Innovation and Startup Promotion Policy 2025-26 was greenlit to strengthen the startup ecosystem, incubators, and innovation hubs, boosting the state’s ranking in national startup assessments and attracting investments. In another decision, 35 completed residential colonies by the Chhattisgarh Housing Board and Raipur Development Authority will be transferred to municipal corporations and municipalities, excluding saleable properties. This will end residents’ dual burden of property taxes and maintenance charges, enabling civic bodies to provide water, electricity, roads, and sanitation. The Cabinet approved a multi-storey office complex by Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran for Government departments, optimising land use. To speed up development in Sirpur and Arpa areas, District Collectors received authority to allot government land at a nominal premium of Re 1 plus rent, aiding the special area development authorities’ master plans.

 

The “Chhattisgarh Cloud First Policy,” proposed by the Electronics and IT Department, mandates cloud services from MeitY-approved providers or secure Indian data centres. Low-priority apps and archives migrate by 2027-28, high-priority by 2029-30, with all new apps cloud-native. It promises cost savings, efficiency, cybersecurity, and 24x7 citizen services. The Mobile Tower Scheme will fast-track approvals for towers in remote and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas lacking connectivity. This will enhance e-governance, rural economy, security, and access to PDS, DBT, health, education, and emergency services like Dial 112.