New Delhi: CM Bhupesh Baghel addressing the seventh NITI AYog meeting under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi on Sunday underscored two important aspects which included- the GST extension and MNREGA scheme implementation in rural areas located near cities and cities with a population of less than 20,000.

Baghel reiterated his demand to the Centre seeking a five-year extension for the compensation paid to the states for revenue shortfall under GST Implementation. On the same note, he also called for a rate revision of royalty for coal and other major minerals from the state.

“There has been a loss of revenue to states due to the GST tax system and the Centre has not made arrangements to compensate the loss of revenue of about Rs 5,000 crore to the state in the coming year, so the GST compensation grant should be continued for the next five years after June 2022”, the chief minister was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his government.

Speaking on MNREGA Baghel Sunday suggested that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) should be implemented in rural areas located near cities and cities with a population of less than 20 thousand.

He said “MGNREGA should be implemented in rural areas located near cities and cities with a population of less than 20,000. In addition to the agenda points related to the meeting, the Chief Minister also spoke on various schemes and topics related to the state interest.”

He further suggested that agricultural research institutes be given the responsibility of providing free seeds of newly developed crop varieties, mini kits and breeder seeds on a large scale to ensure crop diversification and increase in the production and productivity of pulses, and oilseeds.

The 7th governing council meeting of Niti Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Cultural Centre in the national capital. This is the first in-person meeting of the Governing Council since July 2019.