Skill Development Is Our Priority, Says Raman Singh

In an interview with BW | Businessworld's Suman K Jha, Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh answers a wide-range of questions, and also explains why Chhattisgarh's needs are different from other states.

Edited excerpts

Chhattisgarh figures in the top four states in ease of doing business report. What measures are you taking to further improve the ease of doing business in your state?
Yes, certainly we feel proud to have our 4th position in the country in the field of "Ease of doing business". We have made several tax reforms, labour reforms, deemed approvals, third party inspection, online system which were appreciated by World Bank and DIPP. Land, electricity, water, steel, cement, aluminium, human resources and better infrastructure facilities are available here. The Chhattisgarh government is second after South Africa to provide Skill Development Act to the youth. We have allocated Rs 6,151 crore to Youth Budget in the year 2015-16. About 2 lakh youth have been trained at vocational training centres.

How is Naxalism affecting the GDP of the state? What latest measures have you taken to curb this menace? Are the Centre-state, and inter-state cooperation on this adequate and enough?
There is a lot of development in the Naxalites-affected region of the state. To some extent the development is slow in these areas and their contribution to the GDP of state is hit. But the state is doing its best to lessen the impact of these activities. The Centre is co-operating in tackling the menace. Especially after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister the Central Government has come up with strong commitment and active support to finally eradicate Naxalism in our state. In the last few months investment of Rs 24,000 crore has been assured in Bastar for commissioning ultra-mega steel plants, railway network and other industrial expansion projects.

If you had to choose one state, or one country, from where you adopt best practices and try to implement them in your state - which state or country would this be?
We learn various things from different states. When I go to other states, I meet their chief ministers, their people and then try to implement their best practices in my state. I recently went to Gujarat and saw some innovations in education. Similarly, Kerala has done good work in literacy. Karnataka has done good work in public healthcare. It is in these areas that I try to learn from them and adopt and adapt them to our state's needs. Many states for instance want to adopt our PDS system, rated the best in the country.

You have your own radio show now; you will connect with the people on Facebook - are you taking a cue from PM Modi on social media?
Certainly yes! Mr Modi is our role-model in communicating with the masses. The idea of "Raman ke goth" came from him. I have got three systems in place for mass contact. Radio / Facebook; Jan darshan (where I meet some 2-2.5 thousand people once every week, who come from all parts of the state); Gram Swarajya Mission, under which I visit villages by helicopter without informing the machinery, bureaucracy or politicians.

How is your son Abhishek shaping up as a parliamentarian?
He is working hard, and he has to learn many things. It's is voters who have the authority to write his report card.

For more of this interview, watch out for the upcoming BW | Businessworld issue on healthcare