“We are doing the work of conserving the tribal culture”
“Today there is a demand for schools and banks in remote areas of Bastar, this is a step towards a positive change”
Raipur, 19 July 2022
“We have come out in the service of Chhattisgarh Mahtari. Today, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Khubchand Baghel, I am saying that our government is walking on the path shown by the great men and is working towards providing public welfare, We have worked for the economic prosperity of poor laborers ,tribals, landless farmers, livestock herders, etc. We are working to conserve and promote the tribal culture. Our policies have brought a positive change in the lives of the people of the state. Today there is a demand for schools and banks in the remote areas of Bastar. Yes, this is the change we always wanted.” Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said these things at the launch of a private news channel today. Chief Minister Shri Baghel had arrived as the chief guest at the launch of Swadesh News. Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Urban Administration Minister Dr. Shivkumar Dahria, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Vinay Jaiswal, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Pradeep Sharma were also present in the program.
In the program which was based on the theme of “Humar Swadesh”, Chief Editor Mr. Subhash Mishra and Group Editor Mr. Abhay Kishor discussed with Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel on numerous topics of the state. During this, first of all he was questioned about the need of Roka-Chheka campaign. On this, the Chief Minister said that monsoon has arrived in the state. Now transplanting and weeding work has started in the fields. The Roka-Chheka campaign is to prevent cattle from entering the fields, so that the cattle do not damage the crop and the hard work of the farmers is not wasted. Today, health and education have become very expensive. An illness doesn’t inform and come, and the middle class or lower class family is not prepared for such situations. In such a situation, the state government is providing assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakh through Dr. Khubchand Baghel Health Protection Scheme and Rs. 20 lakh under Chief Minister's Special Assistance Scheme.Chief Minister Baghel said that we are working to save and promote tribal culture. Devgudis are being renovated and beautified. The practice of Ghotul, which is deeply associated with the tribal civilization, is also being saved. Tribal culture is known for its traditions, but in the past they were not given due attention. Our government is working for the promotion of the rich culture we have. He said that the present state government is engaged in the true service of cows. After the initiative to buy cow dung, the purchase of cow urine will also be started in the state from the coming ‘Hareli Tihar’. After launching the Godhan Nyay Yojana, it has helped to overcome the problem of stray cattle. On the other hand, where people used to leave the old cattle in the open, and those cattle did not even get fodder, today after the Godhan Nyay scheme, the cowherds are making arrangements for housing and fodder for these cattle.
While talking about making vermi compost from the cow dung purchased under Godhan Nyay Yojana and using it as organic manure, the Chief Minister said that global warming is already a threat to the environment. In such a situation, the use of chemical fertilizers is harmful to the land as well as dangerous to the environment. In this situation, the use of organic manure in the form of vermi compost is beneficial to increase the fertility of the land and save the environment. The Chief Minister said that the purpose of the program of Maati Pujan is also that if we are taking so much from the earth, then we should return a little as well. Linking the concept of Krishna Kunj to this, he said that Krishna Kunj would become a medium to make the future generations aware of the environment and connect with nature.
Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said that on this day the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi had nationalized the banks. A big economic change took place in the country. He said that the work of governance should be of social welfare. The Chief Minister told the forum that during the Bhent aur Mulaqat campaign, even in remote areas of Bastar, tribals and forest dwellers are now demanding schools and banks. Now tribals and forest dwellers also understand the importance of education. At the same time, the state government did the work of implementing Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna, Godhan Nyay Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Bhoomiheen Grameen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana, providing forest produce on support price and value addition, and giving them a marketplace to sell. Due to this, now there is money in the pockets of the people of forests. Now they want to keep their money in banks. Hence, people are demanding banks.
On the question of minimum unemployment rate in the state, the Chief Minister said that unemployment cannot be reduced just by giving government jobs. However, after 1998, after our government came to the state for the first time, teachers were recruited on a large scale, assistant professors were recruited. There have been recruitments in the police department and many recruitments including SI are in process but there is a limit for recruitment in government jobs. For this, we considered other options and prepared such schemes, so that people can get financial benefits. After the policy of the state government, today the trend towards agriculture has increased. In the last 15 years, where the area under agriculture was decreasing every year, the area under agriculture has already increased in the last three years.
He said that there is 44 percent forest area in the state. There is sufficient quantity of forest produce here, but due to non-purchase, the collection was not happening. We continued with the purchase of MNREGA and minor forest produce during the Corona period when all work and business were closed. The state government is currently procuring 65 types of minor forest crops. Value addition is being done. Today the Tikhur of Bastar is going to foreign countries. Gauthans are being developed as Rural Industrial Parks. We are providing employment in the villages itself. Every village hand has got a job because of our policies. Today 600 types of products are being made through Rural Industrial Park located in Gauthan. Arrangements are being made to sell them through C-Mart. In this way employment is being ensured.
Replying to another question, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that old experiences come in handy. Experiences cannot be evaluated. A lump of experience weighs more than a ton of literature. He said, we all have to serve Chhattisgarh Mahtari with our individual and collective experiences. Educations, health, employment of the people here have to be taken care of. To fulfill the dreams of our current generation and ancestors. We all have to work collectively.
