State Government has taken concrete initiative to solve the problems in Abujhmad: For the first time in many years, the villagers of Abujhmad region have started getting the benefits of government schemes
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that Chhattisgarh’s model of development will be further expanded with the inclusion of local talent, participation of local youth and the utilization of local resources. The new improved model of development would make every region of Chhattisgarh prosperous and happy. Chief Minister was addressing the people of the state on the topic- ‘New path of development carved with the special strategy at district-level’ in the 22nd episode of his monthly radio programme- Lokvani that was aired today. This is the second episode of Lokvani on this subject. The monthly radio programme of Lokvaani was aired today from all the centers of All India Radio, FM Radio and regional news channels.
Tea gardens are ready in 60 acres of land in Kansabel, Balachapar and Gutri villages of Jashpur district
Talking about the benefits being provided to the villagers through tea cultivation in Jashpur district, Mr. Baghel said that like Assam, tea gardens are now visible in Jashpur. The consistent efforts and hard work of local community has led to the development of these lush tea gardens in Jashpur, which have huge potential to become a major source of income for the people. Tea is being cultivated in Sarudih village of Jashpur block. In response to the question of Shri Ashok Tirkey, resident of Jashpur, Chief Minister said that under the Joint Forest Management Committee Sarudih, members of 16 Scheduled Tribe families in Self-Help Group have developed tea garden on 20 acres of agricultural land, with the guidance and hard work of the district administration. Two women self-help groups are involved in the management and processing of tea plantations. Now green tea and C.T.C.T. are being manufactured on a commercial scale from tea plantation. The quality of tea manufactured here has also been checked by commercial institutions, and both the varieties of the tea have been found to be of good quality. Organic farming has been made the basis in this tea garden. Similarly, tea gardens have been set up in Kansabel in Manora block, Balachhapar in Jashpur block and Gutri in 60 acres of land.
Baghel said that the district administration plays an important role in generating employment opportunities at local-level, and funds under DMF and MNREGA can be of utilized for the same. The way cultivation of chilli has been started in Bijapur, considering the local weather, soil and conditions, similar steps are being taken in other districts as well. On the initiative of local district administration, tea gardens have been developed in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, just like Assam. In Abujhmad, villages are being surveyed to provide benefits of government schemes to people there.
Chief Minister began his speech in Chhattisgarhi language and greeted the people of the state on festivals such as Navratri, Dussehra, Karva Chauth, Devari, Gaura-Gauri Puja, Maatar, Govardhan Puja, Chhath festival, Bhai Dooj etc. He said that there are magnificent temples of Devi Mai in all the four corners of the state. There is Danteshwari Dai in Dantewada, Bamleshwari Dai in Dongargarh, Mahamaya Dai in Ratanpur, Chandrahasini Dai in Chandrapur. In the form of women power, we worship daughters and we also have a tradition of organizing’Kanya Bhoj’ for girls. He said that the festival of Navratri is celebrated twice a year here, out of respect for daughters and women. We should to carry this feeling of honour and respect for daughters and women throughout our life.
Water conservation and augmentation works to be done in 30 thousand canals under Narva Yojana
Providing information about Narva Yojana of state government, Chief Minister said that under the scheme, the work of water conservation and augmentation has been started in 30 thousand drains of the state to relieve the farmers from water-supply related problems. In the today’s episode of Lokvani, Mr. Tikaram Rathia of Labed village of Korba district told that now farmers are cultivating paddy and vegetables in about three and a half hundred acres of land, with the water supply from the dam built on the canal in his village. Mr. Baghel said that nearly 25 years ago, flow of water was stopped by making an earthen dam in Labed village. Taking a commendable initiative, the district administration ensured the work of scientific renovation of this dam at the cost of Rs. 2 crore 34 lakh. This renovation has almost doubled the irrigation capacity of this dam from 210 acres to 419 acres. The people of the villages Labed and Giddhkunwari have started getting the benefits of this renovation.
Preliminary map and records of 19 villages of Narayanpur district prepared in collaboration with IIT Roorkee
Mr. Baghel said that we have started taking concrete action towards solving the problems in Abujhmad area, positive results of which will be soon visible at the ground-level. In the episode of Lokvani aired today, Mr. Satyanarayan of Narayanpur district of Abujhmad told that people have received land lease after the survey of revenue land in Abujhmad area, and now they are selling paddy. Leveling of land has been done and people are also getting the benefits of other state government schemes. He thanked Chief Minister on behalf of the villagers for taking these initiatives.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said in the context that Abujhmad means an unexplored forest area. When our government came into power, I felt that how can it happen that some area of the state can remain unexplored and there is no system to understand the expectations, facilities and development plans for the people in this area. He said that it was found in a reasearch that 237 villages of Orchha block of Narayanpur district and 9 villages of Narayanpur block were unsurveyed, which is why the farmers are unable to get the benefits of various government schemes.
Chief Minister said that till now preliminary survey of four villages of Orchha block and 9 villages of Narayanpur block have been completed and connected with ‘Bhuiyan’ software. Besides, survey work of six other villages is in process. Preliminary maps and records of 19 villages have been prepared in collaboration with IIT Roorkee. He said that State Government has decided that till the completion of the survey process, the occupants should be given the benefits of various schemes on the basis of preliminary records or masahati khasra. One thousand 92 villagers from Orchha block and 1 thousand 842 people from Narayanpur block have given applications to take benefits of various schemes. Taking action on these applications, benefits are being given to the eligible beneficiaries.
Optimal utilization of DMF items are yielding miraculous results
Shri Basant Yadav of Kabirdham district asked Chief Minister about the works being done under DMF head, to which Mr. Baghel informed that in Kabeerdham district, educated youth are being provided employment as school Sangwari, under DMF head. Facilities such as bike ambulance have been provided and initiatives such as nutrition campaign are being taken. Chief Minister said that the amount of DMF is actually a deposit of those areas, where activities such as environment, health, employment, education, nutrition etc. are affected by the mining activities. After taking charge as Chief Minister, I issued clear guidelines for the utilization of DMF, so that this amount can actually be used for the development, rehabilitation of the people of the mining affected areas.
Baghel said that with the amount of this item, more than 100 educated youth are being given employment as school Sangwari in Kabeerdham district. More than 80 local youth have been provided employment as second ANM in health centers operating in rural and forest areas. Also, a large amount from DMF has been sanctioned for infrastructure development. The district hospital facilities are being upgraded. Expert doctors and health staff have been appointed. Bike ambulances are proving to be lifesaving for seriously ill people in forest areas. Motor bike ambulance service is being operated in Kabeerdham district to promote safe institutional delivery under Maternity Health Scheme. This has yielded positive results in forest areas like marshy, bokkarkhar, jhalmala, kukdoor, chhirpani. It has helped more than 2 thousand pregnant mothers to go for institutional deliveries.
The use of DMF funds for implementation of Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan has proved to be very effective. Eggs and bananas were included in the diet to provide extra nutritious food to malnourished children. Hot food is being provided to children in the age group of 1 to 3 years in Anganbadi centres. The rate of malnutrition in the district has come down from 19.56 per cent to 13 per cent in the year 2021, which is a great achievement. Similar positive reports are being received from every district. As a result of this initiative, the number of malnourished children in the state has decreased by 32 percent.
Overdue loan worth Rs 13 crore waived for women’s groups
Ms. Rameshwari Sahu of Priambika Self-Help Group of village Managata in Rajnandgaon district informed that district administration is making efforts to boost the income of rural women. She herself is involved in various activities including manufacturing of Vermi Compost in Gauthan. 50 didis from 28 groups of their village had made rakhis out of paddy, seeds, wheat, rice, bamboo, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan festival. They sold more than 25 thousand rakhis worth more than two lakh 30 thousand were sold online and offline in the country and abroad throu e-commerce platforms. She told that Dr. Kiranmayi Nayak, chairperson of the State Commission for Women, had ordered the rakhi made by them from amazon.com to tie it to him on Rakshabaandhan.
She thanked Chief Minister for wearing the rakhi made by them. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that many steps have been taken by the state government to strengthen women self-help groups in Chhattisgarh. On the occasion of Teeja-Pora, overdue loans worth about Rs 13 crore taken by women self-help groups from Mahila Kosh were waived off. This step of state government would help them to take a new loan. The amount to be given to women groups from the Mahila Kosh has been increased from Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore and the loan limit has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. This would help the women groups to expand their business. About 22 thousand 480 rakhis made by women groups of Rajnandgaon district have been sold through e-commerce. Arrangements have also been made to sell Vermi Compost on e-commerce, this will give a new market to women groups.
Develop a convenient system of public grievance redressal in the districts
Ms. Guruchanda Thakur of Surajpur district thanked Chief Minister for ‘Jan Samvad’ program started by the district administration for public grievance redressal in Surajpur district and said that this new system has solved the grievances of many including his own. In this regard, Chief Minister said that this district-level initiative is benefiting more and more people. People in tribal area and forest area often create find it difficult reach all the way to government offices. Under Jan Samvad program held in Surajpur district, the problems of all the block headquarters are addressed in the district headquarters through a call center. The calls are received and the copy of the application is taken on WhatsApp. In most cases, the problem is resolved within 24 hours. All the work related to revenue demarcation, allocation, loan book, online record etc. is being done through the call center. Issues related to pension, ration card issuance, and demands related to roads, drains, culverts, community buildings etc, problems related to PDS shop, health center, proposals for construction works or payment problems in the district are also being addressed through this system. Mr. Baghel said that this is the reason why he has given a free hand to the district administration all over the state to develop their own system of problem solving in an original way or according to the local needs and characteristics. Such innovations are most welcome.
Farmers of Bijapur district to earn 1.5 lakh rupees per acre from chilli cultivation
Referring to State Government’s efforts to provide employment opportunities and financial aid to the people in rural areas, Chief Minister said that decisions such as Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, Suraji Gaon Yojana, Godhan Nyay Yojana, procurement of forest produce on support price, production and processing of minor cereal crops called millets, free water for irrigation, agriculture loan waiver, irrigation tax waiver, Pauni-Pasari scheme have significantly strengthened the rural economy.
Mr. Devar Kishtaiya of Chandur village in Bijapur district told through a recorded message that due to lack of perennial employment opportunities in the village, many villagers used to go across the river to pluck chillies in Telangana chilli fields. But now, as a result of the initiatives taken by the new government and with the support of district administration, chilli cultivation has now been started in Chandur and neighboring villages of Kottur and Tarlaguda. Basic facilities such as seed fertilizer, pump, tube well, drip system, mulching, electricity and fencing have been provided free of cost for chilli cultivation by the district administration. He thanked Chief Minister for these initiatives.
Chief Minister said that under district administration’s initiative of chilli cultivation in Chandur, Tarlaguda and Kottur villages of Bijapur district, 78 farmer families owning 155 acres of land in these three villages have been prepared. Through DMF and MNREGA, nursery has been prepared with the initial arrangements such as fencing of fields, seeds, manure, bore, drip irrigation, mulching and electricity etc. In this way, the farmers who earlier used to earn about Rs 10 thousand per acre by cultivating moong, will now earn around Rs 1-1.5 lakh per acre by cultivating chillies.
