Chhattisgarh Congress Promises Free Education from KG to PG, BJP Reacts with Concern
- State Congress President Deepak Baij outlines ambitious education plans, asserts BJP’s apprehensions in the lead-up to 2023 elections
TFP, Raipur, Oct 28, 2023: In a significant announcement that has sparked both enthusiasm and apprehension, State Congress President and MP Deepak Baij declared that free education from Kindergarten to Postgraduate (KG to PG) levels would herald a revolutionary transformation in Chhattisgarh if the Congress government is re-elected. This ambitious plan is poised to set Chhattisgarh apart as the lone state in India offering free medical education and technical courses, such as engineering and ITI. The state Congress’s commitment to addressing public concerns and promoting education was underscored as a cornerstone of progress.
Mr. Deepak Baij emphasized the pivotal role of education in steering society towards development. Since the inception of the Congress government, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has made education a top priority, exemplified by the establishment of more than 727 Swami Atmanand schools, which provide free English education to the state’s children.
The announcement has evidently unnerved the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Mr. Baij pointed out. BJP leaders have resorted to vigorous rhetoric, revealing their discomfort with the Congress’s ambitious plans. Mr. Baij highlighted that, after the farmers’ loan waiver, the BJP is now opposing the concept of free education for children. The Congress is resolute in its mission to usher in positive change, promising not only a loan waiver for farmers but also a scheme for purchasing paddy at a competitive rate of 20 quintals per acre. Under the “Chhattisgarh Awas Nyay Yojana,” the Congress aims to construct 17.5 lakh houses for the underprivileged, following a caste census.
Additionally, the party intends to formulate comprehensive plans to uplift marginalized sections of the state, ensuring a 10 percent additional price over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for forest produce purchases and a subsidy of Rs 4000 per year for Tendu leaf collectors.
Mr. Baij exuded confidence that the Congress government is on the brink of reformation in the state. The party’s past performance and public welfare schemes will serve as its ‘Brahmastra’ in the upcoming elections, leaving the BJP grappling for a coherent response. The BJP’s conspicuous lack of substantial counterarguments has led to their engagement in politics over abstract and unsubstantiated issues, distancing them further from the electorate.
Mr. Baij acknowledged the Congress’s growing popularity, citing their significant victory in five by-elections, municipal body elections, and panchayat elections. In contrast, there is palpable frustration among BJP workers and growing enthusiasm among Congress supporters. The Congress’s primary objective in this election is to enhance the well-being of farmers, youth, and the common people of Chhattisgarh while building upon the work accomplished during the past five years.
