Raipur 20 June 2021
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has said that there is ample scope of employment in Bastar due to valuation of valuable forest produce. If the value addition is done in the forest produce of Bastar, then the youth of Bastar need not go out for employment. Better means of employment and income can be provided not only to the youth of Bastar but also to the people of other areas through the valuation and trade of forest produce. Mr. Baghel said that after processing and value addition of Bastar mango, tamarind and cashew, these products are being sold at very high prices in the country and abroad. The garment made in Denex factory of Dantewada is now going to Bangalore. This is a new picture of changing Bastar and Dantewada.
The Chief Minister praised the work being done by the officers-employees and public representatives of Kondagaon and Dantewada district administrations in raising the standard of living of the people of tribal areas and congratulated them. He said that our fields and forests are our real strength, with this strength we are building New Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel was addressing the function after inaugurating 788 development works worth Rs 544 crore 86 lakh in Kondagaon and Dantewada districts and performing Bhoomi Pujan in a virtual program organized at his residence office today. He gave 131 works worth Rs 204.15 crore to Kondagaon district and 657 development works worth Rs 340.71 crore to Dantewada district. On this occasion, the beneficiaries of various schemes of these two districts were discussed virtually and inquired about the benefits they are getting.
The Chief Minister said that more and more people should be involved in the work of value addition and in the work of supplying the things which are required in various schemes of the government like nutrition campaign. This will not only provide quality material, but will also provide employment and good means of income to the local people. In this context, Shri Baghel gave an example of egg production by women self-help groups in different districts of Bastar and supplying it to Anganwadis under Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan. He said that earlier eggs were sourced from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for mid-day meal program in Anganwadi centers and schools under Suposhan Abhiyan, now eggs are being supplied from eggs produced through poultry farming by women self-help.
Shri Baghel said that the Tikhur of Kondagaon and the city was famous, now the Tikhur of Chhattisgarh will be recognized in foreign countries as well. The Kondagaon district administration has taken an initiative to make tikhur drinks and supply it abroad. Similarly, the Amchur and Cashew nuts of Bastar used to be bought very cheaply by the traders of Odisha, now they are being sold at a good price by doing value addition in them. Amchur of Dantewada used to sell at Rs 70-75 a kg, today after value addition Rs 600 a kg and Bastar cashew nut from Rs 50 to 100 a kg is being sold for Rs 800 a kg after value addition. The local people are getting the benefit of this.
The Chief Minister said that Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan has got good success in reducing the rate of malnutrition in Kondagaon district. Malnutrition rate has come down by 43 percent in this district, which has happened for the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh. Similarly, in Dantewada district also, the rate of malnutrition has come down by 27 percent. Shri Baghel said that water label in Kondagaon has increased by about 10 inches due to Narva development program, which is a big achievement.
Shri Baghel said that the collectors of the districts of this zone should make special efforts to increase the trade of valuable forest produce of Bastar in the country and abroad. He said that it is our priority to bring these ten aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh which are considered to be very backward districts in the category of developing and developed districts.
Chief Minister Shri Baghel performed Bhoomipujan of Kondanar Garment Factory and Tatamari Resort near Keshkal along with Kondanar Sports Academy to be constructed at a cost of Rs.4 crore 72 lakh in Kondagaon. After launching the Aromatic Kondanar campaign in Kondagaon district, he interacted with the beneficiaries of planting aromatic plants. On this occasion, distribution and plantation work of 10 thousand saplings was started under the NARAIAR Mahabhiyan. On this occasion, MoU was signed between Transforming Rural Foundation and Kondagaon District Administration and Sun Flag Agro Private Limited and District Administration Kondagaon for setting up essential oil industry. Chief Minister Shri Baghel launched the products prepared by women self-help groups under the UDAN project, Tikhur Shake, tamarind chutney and tamarind concentrate and 7 types of pickle products and mobile app Nangat Pila for monitoring the Chief Minister’s nutrition campaign. He virtually flagged off the vehicle of Nava Dantewada Garment Factory and Denex Amchur.
Chief Minister Shri Baghel announced to develop an industrial area on 500 acres of land for processing minor forest produce, horticulture forestry and mineral resources in Dantewada district in the name of Late Shri Mahendra Karma. He inaugurated the second unit of Nava Dantewada Garment Factory at Barsur constructed at a cost of Rs. 1 crore 8 lakh. On this occasion, he sent readymade clothes worth Rs. 1 crore 20 lakhs produced in Nava Dantewada Garment Factory Haram to Bangalore.
On this occasion, Minister of Public Health Engineering and Minister in charge of Kondagaon district Shri Guru Rudrakumar, Revenue Minister and Minister in charge of Dantewada district Shri Jaisingh Agarwal, Industries Minister Shri Kawasi Lakhma, School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, MP Shri Deepak Baij, MLA Mr. Mohan Markam, Mrs. Devati Karma, Mr. Sant Kumar Netam and Mr. Chandan Kashyap while addressing the program appreciated the development works being done in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel. Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi was present at the Chief Minister’s residence.
