Chhattisgarh, located in central India, lies at the intersection of the Chota Nagpur and Deccan Plateau, shaping its unique topography and cultural heritage. Home to 34 tribal communities, the state boasts rich folk art, music and dance-drama forms like Pandwani. Known for its abundant wildlife and mineral wealth, including iron ore and bauxite, Chhattisgarh blends tradition with economic potential.
The state has been performing consistently in the last 10 years with occasional spikes and downfalls. In the year of 2024, Chhattisgarh has performed better than previous year receiving 14th rank in SKOCH Governance rankings, falling short of 13th place by a very small margin.
The state has shown remarkable progress in rural development, health, district governance and urban infrastructure, with a consistent focus on improving public services. The categories of Health and District Governance have gained the highest stride in comparison to last year, moving up to 4th place from 9th and 12th respectively, indicative of the commitment for improvement.
The performance in development sector has been especially well with Urban Development securing high position consistently. However, to break into the top 10 states, it must expand its portfolio of high-impact projects, particularly in policing, power and municipal governance. Chhattisgarh has prioritised developmental spending as well, which is reflective with the comeback of Rural Development, Skill Development, Warehousing and Trasport categories, in the rankings.
These are placed among the top five positions while also topping in Rural Development category, nationally.
The state has managed to maintain a strong fiscal health with ranking 2nd in Fiscal health Index for year 2023 and has prioritised in improving infrastructure facilities. There has been more than double increase in every sector of governance with high focus on District Governance, Health and Power & Energy. The capital expenditure of the state is also a testament to their efforts with increase in medical education, water supply and rural infrastructure spending, coupled with 40.4% of its budget allocated to health and education.
State's Performance in Different Sectors in Three Years
| Sector | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Development | 1 | ||
| Skill Development | 2 | 2 | |
| Urban Development | 2 | 2 | |
| Warehousing | 2 | ||
| District Governance | 4 | 12 | 14 |
| Health | 4 | 9 | |
| Transport | 4 | 5 | |
| Power & Energy | 9 | 6 | 8 |
Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority (CSSDA)
Aligned with PMKVY and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, the CSSDA skill development programme has trained 479,000+ youth, enhancing employability and entrepreneurship for individuals aged 14-45 across Chhattisgarh. The initiative provides market-relevant training, improving income levels, job satisfaction and self-reliance. Despite challenges such as high dropout rates, employer wage concerns and tracking difficulties, the programme has made a significant impact on workforce development. There are plans to focus on expanding training centres, diversifying skill programmes and strengthening alumni networks to ensure long-term sustainability and broader economic opportunities for Chhattisgarh’s youth.
Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation – Dumping and Stacking Module
Launched on 22 October 2011, by the Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation (CGSWC), the Dumping and Stacking Module modernised stock management across 1,336 warehouses under 138 branches. The system eliminated manual stock keeping, improved real-time data tracking and enhanced depositor confidence. Despite challenges such as technical training gaps, IT infrastructure limitations and server downtime, it boosted efficiency, reduced stock entry time and improved coordination with agencies like NAN, MARKFED and FCI. Digital signatures, API integration and mobile applications to further enhance scalability and operational efficiency in warehousing across the state are some scaling initiatives in plans.
Swastha Janjgir-Champa Abhiyaan
To streamline and improve healthcare access across Janjgir- Champa region of Chhattisgarh, Swastha Janjgir-Champa Abhiyaan (SJCA) was launched in 1 April 2024. The initiative covered 11.29 lakh residents, providing the Swastha Janjgir-Champa Abhiyaan (SJCA) aimed to streamline healthcare access across Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh. The initiative provided door-to-door health screenings for TB, leprosy, sickle cell anemia, cataracts, disabilities and Ayushman card distribution.
Despite staff shortages, logistical delays and disease stigma, the campaign successfully identified 10,066 cataract cases, tested 294,878 individuals for sickle cell anemia and issued thousands of Ayushman Cards. Future plans include telemedicine, app-based health tracking and policy expansion to ensure sustainable healthcare improvements across the district.
Utkrisht Gariyaband Abhiyan
Launched on 20 June 2023, the Utkrisht Gariyaband Abhiyan aimed to improve literacy, reduce dropout rates and enhance student engagement in the tribal-dominated, Left Wing Extremism-affected Gariyaband district, Chhattisgarh. Despite parental reluctance, teacher absenteeism, cultural hesitation and resource constraints, the programme achieved higher board exam pass rates (12th-grade ranking improved from 22nd to 15th, 10th-grade from 19th to 16th). It also issued 16,000 caste and 710 disability certificates, conducted public speaking and leadership programmes and strengthened parental involvement. Future plans include digital learning expansion and vocational training to ensure long-term educational reform.
Vehicle Location Tracking Platform Under Nirbhaya Framework
Launched on 18 August 2022, the Vehicle Location Tracking Platform (VLT) by the Chhattisgarh Transport Department aims to enhance women’s safety and real-time vehicle tracking.
Integrated with Dial 112, the system has equipped 8,000 public transport vehicles with tracking devices and emergency buttons. Challenges included retrofitting older vehicles, handling false emergency alerts and tracking passenger usage.
The initiative has improved emergency response times, enhanced public transport security and increased passenger confidence. Future plans include expanding VLT to all commercial vehicles, reducing false alerts and integrating mobile tracking for public access.
School Vende Varrat Pandum – Bijapur District Education Initiative
On 1 April 2024, Bijapur District Administration launched the School Vende Varrat Pandum initiative, which was aimed to re-enrol school dropouts in one of India’s most Naxalism-affected tribal regions. Addressing low literacy (41.5%), conflict-driven inaccessibility and poverty-related dropouts, the programme enrolled 3,000 children, reopened 28 schools and engaged 2,500 community members.
Despite security risks, poor infrastructure and economic hardships, it thrived through local language integration (Gondi and Halbi) and personalised parental outreach.
Future efforts focus on strengthening school infrastructure and retention strategies, ensuring a long-term impact on education and empowerment in Bijapur’s tribal communities.
DDUGKY
Launched as a national initiative, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) aims to empower rural youth through skill development and vocational training, addressing unemployment and underemployment. The programme follows a demand-driven approach, aligning training with industry needs and offering continuous support to participants. Key features include industry partnerships, migration support centres, alumni engagement and call centres.
The initiative faced challenges such as low awareness, industry alignment issues, migration risks and participant retention problems. Solutions included localised IEC campaigns, CXO meetings for strategic alignment, bio-bubble strategies during COVID-19 and WhatsApp bot systems for efficient communication.
Outcomes include improved training quality, increased participation in rural areas, enhanced career opportunities and successful alumni networking.
Changing lives of PVTGs
Launched on 1 December 2019, the Transformation of Lives – The Changing Era of PVTGs initiative by the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (CGSRLM) aims to empower Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) through livelihood development, social inclusion and access to basic services. It operates under DAY-NRLM and covers 9,756 households across 9 districts and 14 blocks, focusing on Baiga, Pahadi Korwa, Birhor, Kamar and Pando tribes.
The initiative faced significant challenges, including social resistance, cultural barriers, poor infrastructure and lack of education. Many PVTGs avoided outsiders, relied on hunting and forest produce and lacked Aadhaar, ration cards and healthcare access. To address this, Community Resource Persons from PVTG communities were trained, equipped with tablets for digital surveys and awareness campaigns. The initiative ensured rights-based development, strengthening Gram Sabhas under PESA and FRA while promoting livelihood diversification through SHGs.
