A new strategy for the development of agriculture, skill development, tourism and industry
Team News Riveting
Raipur, April 16
A comprehensive action plan for the overall development of Bastar was presented during the discussion Viksit Bastar Ki Oar (Towards Developed Bastar) organized in Jagdalpur on Tuesday in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
In the important meeting, an in-depth and meaningful discussion was held, highlighting the possibilities of Bastar in areas like agriculture, skill development, tourism and industry and setting a new direction for development. After discussions with the officials of the departments concerned, local public representatives and stakeholders, the Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to take Bastar out of the darkness of Maoism and towards the light of development.
The Chief Minister is on a two-day visit to Bastar. On the first day of his stay, he participated in the discussion towards Developed Bastar.
Sai said that Bastar has suffered the brunt of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) for decades, but now the region is moving on a new path of development with its rich tribal culture, natural beauty, agricultural development, skill upgradation, industry and mineral resources. He emphasized that the resolution of “Developed Chhattisgarh @ 2047” will be realized through the “Nava Anjor” vision, and it is starting from Bastar. The farmers, women groups, young entrepreneurs, and tribal communities of Bastar are ready to write a new chapter of progress for Chhattisgarh.
In the first session of the discussion, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, and organic farming were discussed in detail to double the income of the farmers of Bastar. The Chief Minister said that processing, branding, and marketing will be promoted to take the indigenous and organic products of Bastar to the markets of the country and abroad. For this, emphasis was laid on setting up processing units at the local level and ensuring the quality of the products. He said, “Bastar products will not only become the identity of Chhattisgarh, but will also make their place at the global level.
In Bastar division, Kharif crops are cultivated in about 9 lakh hectares and Rabi crops in 2.75 lakh hectares. The main Kharif crops are paddy and maize. Maize is cultivated in 1.85 hectares in Bastar division, which has been targeted to be increased to 3 lakh hectares in the next three years. Emphasis was laid on market linkage of maize producing farmers with biofuel, biopharmaceutical, starch and poultry feed industries, so that farmers can get maximum benefit from their produce.
Similarly, emphasis has been laid on increasing the cultivation of millets from 52 thousand hectares to 75 thousand hectares in the next three years and setting up processing units at the local level and including millets in the food grains of children in schools, Anganwadis and hostels. To promote organic farming in Bastar and market integration with the participation of private companies, expansion in irrigation area, in three years, emphasis has been laid. An action plan will be prepared for the installation of 27 thousand 600 solar pumps and solar lift irrigation pumps on the banks of rivers and canals. To promote agricultural mechanization, a target was set to establish 30 to 40 new custom hiring centers every year. Currently, 1010 agricultural machinery centers are operating in Bastar. There was a discussion on the establishment of cashew in Bastar, pickles, spices and coconut oil in Kondagaon, custard apple pulp in Kanker, honey and turmeric powder in Dantewada, and spice processing in Sukma, Narayanpur and Bijapur.
Sai talked about paying special attention to skill development to make the youth of Bastar self-reliant. During the discussion, it was informed that so far 90 thousand youths have been trained and 40 thousand youths have been employed under the Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme, Prime Minister Skill Scheme, and Niyyad Nella Nar schemes. Apart from this, there is a plan to establish 32 new skill development centers in Bastar and residential training centers in all seven districts. Through these centers, local youth will be linked to employment by training them according to the demand of the market and industries. Naxal-affected families, surrendered Naxalites and women will be given special priority in these schemes. Contracts have been signed with Mahindra & Mahindra, Nandi, NSDC and Niti Aayog for skill training. Under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, 6123 people have been trained in various trades in all seven districts of Bastar division.
He said that there are immense possibilities of tourism in Bastar region. The Chief Minister emphasized on promoting Bastar Dussehra, which lasts for 75 days, across the country and especially at the international level. He also directed to prepare a blueprint of plans for the programs to be organized during the upcoming tourist season. The Chief Minister also said that it is important to make the private sector a partner in tourism. He also said that arrangements should be made to develop tourist circuits and guide training so that local youth get employment.
Sai said that famous for attractions like Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls, Kanger Valley National Park and ancient caves, the region offers amazing landscape and rich biodiversity. He said that instructions have been given to prepare from now to promote Bastar Dussehra internationally. It was told in the meeting that tourists can visit vibrant tribal villages and experience traditional festivals like Bastar Dussehra and enjoy local crafts and cuisine. Google mapping services will be improved in collaboration with private agencies to improve the visibility and accuracy of tourist places.
It was informed in the meeting that the new Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2025 will be published soon. A plan will be made to lease existing tourism properties to private hoteliers under the public-private partnership model. About Rs 6 crore has been proposed from the revolving fund for the construction of a glass bridge near Tirathgarh waterfall. A proposal of about Rs 40 lakh has been made in the State Plan ahead of the financial year 2025-26 for the implementation of Homestay cum Traditional Healing Center in Village Pedawad.
The Chief Minister said that the government was working to promote industrial development in Bastar. Many special provisions have been made in the new industrial policy. Creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the people of Bastar division is included in our priority. By making maximum use of forest resources, we can increase the income of local people. Various types of minerals and food grains worth about Rs 102 crore per year are exported from here, in which iron ore has the highest share.
The Chief Minister said that in the new Industrial Policy 2024-30, there is a provision of royalty reimbursement for 15 years for the steel industry. There is a provision of 40 percent subsidy of their salary for five years to industries and institutions on giving employment to surrendered Naxalites. A provision of 10 percent additional subsidy for Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Maoist affected people and up to 25 percent subsidy for new MSMEs established by Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Maoist affected persons has been made.
Sai emphasized that with the goal of making the country LWE-free by March 2026, the pace of development in Bastar will be further accelerated. Many special provisions have been made in the new Naxalite Surrender Victims, Relief-Rehabilitation Policy 2025, so that Naxal-affected families and surrendered Naxalites can be brought into the mainstream through incentives, compensation, education, skill development and self-employment. The Chief Minister said that a concrete action plan for the development of Bastar has been prepared from today’s discussion. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this action plan will give new impetus to the development of not only Bastar, but the entire Chhattisgarh. He called upon all the stakeholders to work together in this direction.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, MP Mahesh Kashyap, MLA Kiran Singh Deo, Vinayak Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Rahul Bhagat, Secretaries of the departments concerned, Collectors of all the districts of Bastar Division, stakeholders of organizations related to agriculture, industry, tourism and skill development were present in the discussion on Viksit Bastar Ki Oar organized in Jagdalpur.
