In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has pledged ₹75 lakh for the construction of domes across five locations to serve the Dhurwa community. The initiative will see each dome built at a cost of ₹15 lakh. Further, Sai has promised to approve proposals put forth by 36 sarpanchs of the Dhurwa community for the development of village councils, or Gram Panchayats. This announcement was made during the Nuakhai Milan समारोह, a divisional-level gathering, and the inauguration of the newly constructed social building, ‘Olek’, held at the Forest School complex in Jagdalpur on Sunday.
Sai affirmed the state government’s commitment to the overall development of tribal societies. He pointed out the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led initiative, the Dharti Aba Gram Utkarsh Yojana, which seeks to ensure that tribal-dominant villages have the financial resources they need for development. This plan has an allocation of ₹80,000 crore. Moreover, the Prime Minister Janman Yojana has been launched to uplift particularly backward tribes, intending to integrate them into the broader development framework.
According to Sai, these strategic efforts will pave the way for a surge in development within tribal territories, allowing tribal communities to steadily advance. During the event, the Chief Minister also participated in prayers for Maa Danteshwari, the revered deity of Bastar, in a symbolic ‘Gudi’, and inaugurated the Dhurwa community’s new social building, ‘Olek’.
Sai honored the Dhurwa community’s hero, Shaheed Gundadhur, noting that the Nuakhai Milan समारोह is a custodian of their rich culture and traditions. He added that it is a time-honored tribal custom to offer grains or fruits to their deities before consumption, a practice that continues today and will be preserved for future generations.
Reflecting on the contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sai congratulated the Dhurwa community on the unveiling of their social building, ‘Olek’. He said that the new facility would be extremely valuable for the community’s progress and for holding gatherings. He also noted that Vajpayee formed a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs within the Indian government, prioritizing the welfare of tribal communities. Vajpayee’s birth centenary is being marked as Atal Nirman Varsh.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role played by the Special Tribal Area Development Authority in promoting development in the tribal-dominated Bastar and Sarguja divisions. He noted that former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh established these authorities to facilitate essential development projects in these regions, in addition to those already in place.
Concerning Maoist-affected regions, Sai explained that the government is focused on development in the Bastar division, supplying basic amenities such as roads, bridges, electricity, water, and housing, along with rations through the Niyad Nellanar scheme. The goal is to guarantee that all eligible individuals benefit from public welfare programs.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, extending his greetings to the Dhurwa community for the Nuakhai Milan समारोह, mentioned that the community’s collective efforts inspire the new generation. He stressed that maintaining ancestral traditions reinforces the community’s unity and cultural identity.
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap, and Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Dev also addressed the gathering, offering their best wishes to the Dhurwa community on the Nuakhai Milan समारोह. The Divisional President of the Dhurwa community, Pappu Nag, delivered the welcoming speech and provided an overview of the community’s activities. The Chief Minister and other guests received a traditional welcome, complete with gifts and attire.
Attendees included Chitrakoo MLA Vinayak Goyal, Dantewada MLA Chaitram Atami, Chhattisgarh Beverages Corporation Chairman Srinivas Rao Maddi, Jagdalpur Mayor Sanjay Pandey, other public representatives, Commissioner Bastar Doman Singh, IG Sundarraj P, Collector Harish S, Superintendent of Police Shalabh Sinha, and Dhurwa community officials and members from across the Bastar division.
