Raman Singh scripts a new economic model

If Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is to be believed, the state will shortly be promoting an unique economic model --  a peculiar blend of market economy and cow-economy in the tribal regions.

"The state government has decided to give cows to people in the tribal dominated Sarguja region as part of an experiment, " Singh said referring to his party's promise to provide cows to each tribal family in the state.

"This project will not be expensive for the state government as we are in touch with the state governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat to procure cows," Singh told Business Standard.

Singh said the state government is working to dovetail the cow project with the poverty alleviation project of the World Bank. "This will revolutionise the economy of the tribal belt," Singh said, exuding confidence.

The cow issue, an emotive one in the tribal state with 11 Lok Sabha seats, has already prompted the state government to go overdrive on the project and emphasise its relevance.

Given the gigantic task of transporting millions of cows from other states, the Chief Minister is obviously hesitant to specify a time-frame for the project. The cow project is, however, expected to increase the focus on re-conversion of tribals- a campaign undertaken by the BJP in the entire state.

But Singh is eager to unravel his plans to boost market economy in the state by establishing clusters of industrial parks to use not only the thermal power generated in the state but also initiating large scale industrial activity by exploiting the available mineral reserves. "We have plans to develop an industrial park for almunium near Korba," he said.

Singh also added that there were several proposals for setting up power projects in the coal-belt of the region. "We are working on these proposals and will link these projects with the areas where mineral reserves are located," he said referring to Chhattisgarh's huge mineral and other natural reserves.

Singh's emphasis on the development issues is aimed at projecting the impression that the BJP will be taking up the Hindutva issue in a big way during the forthcoming polls. What appears to be worrying the BJP strategists is the reluctance Dilip Singh Judeo to contest elections this time.

With Judeo's strong backing among the tribals, the BJP is keen to win over the tribals by promising an era of economic prosperity with a mix of the cow-economy and industrial growth. "This time we will win all 11 seats," a confident Singh said.