Breaking: Cabinet meeting begins at the residence office in Civil Lines under the chairmanship of CM Vishnu Dev Sai

Decisions of the Council of Ministers dated – 18 June 2025: Many important decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai at his residence office in Civil Line –

1 The Council of Ministers, taking an important decision regarding certain facilities available to the castes deprived of inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste list due to technical reasons, has agreed to provide only state scholarships and stipends from the state fund to the students of Dihari Korwa, Baghel Kshatriya, Sansari Oraon and Pabiya, Pavia, Paviya society at par with Scheduled Tribes and to the students of Domra caste at par with Scheduled Castes and to provide the facility of admission in hostels-ashrams under the approved seats.

2 The Council of Ministers has taken an important decision to provide financial assistance to the consumers by the State Government in the installation of solar rooftop plants on the roofs of the house under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme to promote renewable energy in Chhattisgarh and to provide economic benefits to electricity consumers. Under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, domestic consumers will get central financial assistance as well as additional financial assistance from the state for installing solar rooftop plants at their homes through Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL), which will vary based on the capacity of the solar plant (1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW and above). For example, a total of Rs 45,000 will be provided for a 1 kW plant (Rs 30,000 central and Rs 15,000 state assistance) while for a plant of 3 kW or more, the assistance will be Rs 1,08,000 (Rs 78,000 central and Rs 30,000 state assistance). Similar assistance has also been proposed for housing societies/residential welfare associations. This grant amount will be received by CSPDCL in advance and it will give it to the beneficiaries. A target has been set to set up 60,000 solar power plants in the year 2025-26 and 70,000 in 2026-27. This will entail a financial burden of Rs 180 crore in the financial year 2025-26 and Rs 210 crore in 2026-27. CSPDCL will be the implementing agency of this scheme and will implement it as per the guidelines of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. The company will open a separate bank account for the operation of this scheme, in which the subsidy amount will be kept and accounted for. State financial assistance will be given on priority to those domestic consumers whose solar plant has grid synchronization on or after 1 April 2025.

3 The Council of Ministers has taken an important initiative to conserve wildlife, especially tigers, and promote eco-tourism in the state and has decided to constitute the “Chhattisgarh Tiger Foundation Society”. This society will work under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It has been operating in Madhya Pradesh since 1996. Its main goal is to save the continuously decreasing tiger population in Chhattisgarh (currently around 18-20). This organization will be self-financed, so that there will be no additional burden on the government treasury. It will raise funds from individuals and institutions that cooperate. This society will be directly involved in activities related to the conservation of tigers and other wildlife. It will promote eco-tourism with the participation of the local community, which will not only increase tourism but will also create employment and income opportunities for the local people. Also, it will encourage environmental education, research and training, which will prepare future conservationists. This initiative will provide external funds, expertise and resources for conservation, which will provide new employment opportunities to local communities and maintain the environmental balance of the state. It will prove to be a milestone in the field of wildlife conservation in Chhattisgarh, which will protect biodiversity as well as give a strong base to eco-tourism.

4 The cabinet approved the merger of Vivekanand Institute of Social Health Welfare and Services, Chhattisgarh (Viswas) of the non-government aided educational institution Ramakrishna Mission Ashram Narayanpur with Ramakrishna Mission Ashram Narayanpur.

5 It was decided to provide 100 acres of land out of 94.290 hectares of Rajgami Estate in Belgaum under Saja Tehsil of Bemetara district free of cost to the Horticulture Department for the establishment of Horticulture College (Horticulture University).

6 In Jashpur district, women self-help groups are producing traditional products like herbal and mahua tea under the brand name ‘JashPure’. The cabinet has approved the proposal to transfer this brand to the state government or CSIDC to provide a wider market for these products and to promote marketing. The brand transfer will promote agro and food processing units, the demand for local raw materials will increase and tribal women will get more employment opportunities. The trademark transfer will not put any additional financial burden on the state.

7 Keeping in mind the supreme sacrifice of martyred policemen, the cabinet has amended clause 13 (3) of the Integrated Revised Instructions-2013 issued for compassionate appointment and decided that – in the case of police personnel martyred in Naxalite violence, any eligible member (male or female) of their family can be given compassionate appointment in any department other than the police department, in any district, division of the state on the basis of option. Earlier, there was a provision to give compassionate appointment, as far as possible, in the same department or office in which the deceased government servant was working before his death.

8 Taking an important decision for systematic exploration, prospecting and development of infrastructure of minor minerals in the state of Chhattisgarh, the Council of Ministers approved the draft notification for the formation of “State Mineral Exploration Trust” (SMET). It is worth noting that 2 percent of the royalty received from all minor minerals under the State Mineral Exploration Trust in Chhattisgarh will be deposited in the SMET Fund. Which can be used in the exploration of minor minerals, use of high technology in infrastructure development, information system, logistic support, upgradation of human resources etc. State Mineral Exploration Trust will be formed in the state on the lines of the National Mineral Exploration Trust of the Government of India.