Raipur: Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday announced that the accused in rape, molestation and other crimes against women and girls will be barred from government jobs in the state. Mr Baghel made the announcement while addressing the state level Independence Day function held here.
"It is our top priority to ensure the safety of women, their respect and their dignity. We have decided that those accused of molesting girls and women, raping them and other offences against them will be barred from government jobs," the Chhattisgarh CM said.
Mr Baghel is the second chief minister after his Rajasthan counterpart, Ashok Gehlot, to take such a decision.
In his Independence Day address, Mr Baghel made as many as 15 announcements with an eye on the impending Assembly polls in the state by the end of the year.
In another major decision, Mr Baghel declared that the Chhattisgarhi language and tribal dialects will be included in primary school education. Courses on artificial intelligence and computer learning will also be included in the school curriculum.
"Keeping in view the role of modern technology in building Nava (new) Chhattisgarh, the government will include information about state-of-the-art technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things in the school curriculum from the next academic session so that children can prepare themselves for future technology," he said.
The state chief minister also announced free "pickup and drop" bus services for college students.
Mr Baghel further said that students of classes 11 and 12 in government schools located in remote areas of Chhattisgarh will be provided free online coaching from renowned institutes in the country for the preparation of medical and engineering competitive examinations.
For the purpose, free coaching classes will be opened in all development blocks of the state.
Justifying his decision to include Chhattisgarhi language and tribal dialects in school education, Mr Baghel said, "The identity of Chhattisgarh is from its Chhattisgarhi language. From the next academic session, Chhattisgarhi language will be included in school curriculum from classes 1 to 5 in the areas where the language is spoken. Similarly, local dialects of tribal areas will be included as a subject in the school curriculum from classes 1 to 5 in the respective areas."
The Chhattisgarh CM also announced a scheme, christened "Mukhyamantri Nirman Shramik Sahayata Yojana", to provide pension to construction workers.
