New Delhi: As anti-Naxal operations gather pace, the Chhattisgarh government has shifted focus to Bastar, aiming to bridge the development gap through targeted employment and livelihood schemes.
In an exclusive interview with ET, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Bastar is a key priority post-security operations. "A vacuum cannot be allowed after flushing out Naxals. The most important task now is to provide employment to the people of Bastar without disturbing their natural way of life," he said.
To that end, the government is rolling out a slew of schemes focused on agriculture, allied activities, tourism, and promotion of local businesses. Infrastructure development has begun in areas once inaccessible. Mobile towers have been installed, road projects launched, and schemes like piped water supply and Ayushman Bharat cards are being implemented in phases.
Investment & Tourism Boost
In a bid to spur regional industrial growth, the state will host divisional investor summits-one in Bastar on June 20 and another in Sarguja on July 11. "These summits are designed to promote both new and small industries, which will generate employment for the local youth," Sai said.
Tourism is also a major focus area. "Bastar's waterfalls, forests, and tribal heritage make it a unique destination. We are training locals to open homestays and become part of the tourism economy," he added.
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Connectivity
Bastar's fertile soil is well-suited for millet cultivation, a traditional crop for local tribal communities. The government is working to establish market linkages for better pricing. Special schemes are also being rolled out to promote animal husbandry and pisciculture.
"The tribal communities are peace-loving and content with their way of life. Our aim is not to change that, but to enhance their existing livelihoods," Sai emphasized. Irrigation improvements are also on the cards, with a feasibility study underway to link the Indravati River with the Mahanadi.
Security Gains
Since the BJP government assumed office in December 2023, security operations have intensified: 1,376 Naxals have been arrested, 364 killed, and 1,301 surrendered. Sixty-one new security camps have been established. On April 1, three districts-Mungeli, Mahasamund, and Balrampur-were removed from the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
In an exclusive interview with ET, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Bastar is a key priority post-security operations. "A vacuum cannot be allowed after flushing out Naxals. The most important task now is to provide employment to the people of Bastar without disturbing their natural way of life," he said.
To that end, the government is rolling out a slew of schemes focused on agriculture, allied activities, tourism, and promotion of local businesses. Infrastructure development has begun in areas once inaccessible. Mobile towers have been installed, road projects launched, and schemes like piped water supply and Ayushman Bharat cards are being implemented in phases.
Investment & Tourism Boost
In a bid to spur regional industrial growth, the state will host divisional investor summits-one in Bastar on June 20 and another in Sarguja on July 11. "These summits are designed to promote both new and small industries, which will generate employment for the local youth," Sai said.
Tourism is also a major focus area. "Bastar's waterfalls, forests, and tribal heritage make it a unique destination. We are training locals to open homestays and become part of the tourism economy," he added.
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Connectivity
Bastar's fertile soil is well-suited for millet cultivation, a traditional crop for local tribal communities. The government is working to establish market linkages for better pricing. Special schemes are also being rolled out to promote animal husbandry and pisciculture.
"The tribal communities are peace-loving and content with their way of life. Our aim is not to change that, but to enhance their existing livelihoods," Sai emphasized. Irrigation improvements are also on the cards, with a feasibility study underway to link the Indravati River with the Mahanadi.
Security Gains
Since the BJP government assumed office in December 2023, security operations have intensified: 1,376 Naxals have been arrested, 364 killed, and 1,301 surrendered. Sixty-one new security camps have been established. On April 1, three districts-Mungeli, Mahasamund, and Balrampur-were removed from the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
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