Chhattisgarh Monday reiterated its demand for a 'special category' status for the state at a pre-budget meeting of state finance ministers with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi.
Chhattisgarh Commerce and Tax minister Amar Agrawal, who read the state finance minister's speech, said the Planning Commission in its Indian Human Development Report 2011, had adjudged Chhattisgarh as one of the most backward states on the basis of human development index.
Elaborating its stand on the issue, he further said that as per the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report published in 2013 on poverty, Chhattisgarh has the highest ratio of below poverty line (BPL) families in the country (39.9 percent).
He said the Raghuram Ranjan Committee in its report also mentioned that Chhattisgarh was amongst the least developed states in the country.
He also said that most of the districts in the state were dealing with the Maoist issue.
Highlighting the issue of CST revenue loss, he said the state government has received Rs.800 crore less in the last three years and demanded that the amount be compensated from other sources.
Chhattisgarh Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) D.S. Mishra was also present at the meeting.