RAIPUR, India — The Chhattisgarh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has approved a series of major policy initiatives aimed at boosting rural employment, economic development, and green energy. The decisions include a new ₹4,000 crore Rural Employment Guarantee Program, the launch of the Atal Aajeevika Samriddhi Haat Scheme, and the state’s first comprehensive Compressed Biogas (CBG) Policy 2026.
The initiatives are designed to strengthen the rural economy, create sustainable livelihoods, improve village infrastructure, and promote environmentally friendly energy solutions across the state.
₹4,000 Crore Rural Employment Guarantee Program Approved
The Cabinet approved the framework for the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee Mission for Employment and Livelihood (Rural), also known as the VB-G RAM G Scheme. Under the program, eligible rural households will receive a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment during every financial year.
To support the initiative, the Chhattisgarh Government has allocated ₹4,000 crore in the 2026–27 State Budget. The funding will follow a 60:40 cost-sharing model, with 60% provided by the Central Government and 40% contributed by the State Government.
Focus on Water Conservation and Rural Infrastructure
The new employment program will prioritize projects related to water conservation, natural resource management, rural infrastructure development, livelihood asset creation, and sustainable employment generation.
The government also plans to accelerate village development by integrating Gram Panchayat-led planning, coordinating departmental programs, and aligning projects with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. In addition, digital technology will be used to improve transparency, monitoring, and accountability during implementation.
Atal Aajeevika Samriddhi Haat Scheme to Strengthen Rural Economy
The Cabinet also approved the Atal Aajeevika Samriddhi Haat Scheme, a new initiative designed to create local employment opportunities and expand rural entrepreneurship.
The program will establish production centers, processing units, service centers, marketing hubs, and supply centers across rural areas. It will support industries such as handloom, handicrafts, dairy farming, rice milling, cold storage facilities, solar dryers, and digital services.
The primary objective is to enhance the utilization of existing infrastructure while promoting local production, value-added processing, and market access, enabling residents to find employment and self-employment opportunities within their own communities.
Implementation of the scheme will be handled by the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission, while the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development will serve as the nodal agency.
State Approves Comprehensive Compressed Biogas Policy 2026
Another major decision was the approval of the Chhattisgarh Compressed Biogas (CG-CBG) Policy 2026, the state’s first comprehensive policy focused on producing clean energy from organic waste.
The policy aims to convert agricultural residues, livestock waste, municipal solid waste, and other organic materials into Compressed Biogas (CBG) through scientific processing methods.
According to the government, the policy will improve waste management, promote environmental protection, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase the production of organic fertilizers.
Under the state’s Anjor Vision 2047, Chhattisgarh has the potential to produce approximately 500,000 metric tons of Compressed Biogas annually, creating new opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
The Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the policy.
A Comprehensive Push for Rural Growth and Sustainability
The Cabinet’s latest decisions reflect the Sai Government’s strategy of simultaneously promoting employment generation, rural self-reliance, and environmental sustainability. By combining a large-scale employment guarantee program, expanded rural market infrastructure, and an ambitious green energy policy, the government aims to strengthen village economies, improve livelihoods, and support long-term sustainable development across Chhattisgarh.