A new chapter of change is being written in Bastar due to the Prime Minister’s guidance and the Union Home Minister’s resolve: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
If policy, intention, and leadership are right, even decades of neglect can be changed – Chief Minister
Bastar is no longer a symbol of fear and backwardness, but is becoming a symbol of trust, development, and possibilities: Chief Minister Shri Sai
Raipur, February 5, 2026 / Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, while addressing the Parliament today, specially mentioned Bastar and said that the Bastar which was once considered an aspirational district, is now known as “Bastar Olympics” across the country. The stream of development is now reaching every village of Bastar. There are many villages where bus service has started for the first time and the entire village celebrated it like a festival. He said that there was a time when some districts were considered backward and were neglected. The basic needs of crores of people living there were denied, and they were forced to live in that state. Lack of development in these areas had worsened the situation. The situation had reached such a point that such districts were considered suitable for punishment postings, which further deteriorated the system there. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that this mindset and culture have been changed. It was decided that eligible, young, and bright officers would be posted in backward areas and they would be given a full three-year tenure so that they could work independently. One concrete decision after another was taken, and today the country is witnessing their results.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement on development in Bastar in Parliament today, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the Bastar region is fortunate for Chhattisgarh. This region is extremely rich in natural beauty and can be called heaven on earth. It has many beautiful waterfalls, the world-famous Kutumsar cave, the vast Abujhmad forest, and the village of Dhudmaras has been selected among the 20 best tourist villages by the World Tourism Organization.
The Chief Minister said that due to Naxalism for about four decades, development could not touch this entire region, even though Bastar is larger in area than the state of Kerala. Now the situation is changing rapidly. Due to the firm resolve of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, clear policy, and the indomitable courage of the security forces, Naxalism is on the decline in Bastar and development has gained new momentum. He said that it is a result of this faith and enthusiasm that the Bastar Olympics have been organized since last year. Last year, 1 crore 65 lakh youth participated, while this year this number has increased to 3 crore 91 lakh. Similarly, the Bastar Pandum was also organized last year and is being organized this year as well.
The Chief Minister said that the divisional level Bastar Pandum will be inaugurated on the 7th by the hands of the Hon’ble President Smt. Draupadi Murmu, while the closing ceremony will be held on the 9th with Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah as the chief guest. He said that the mention of Bastar and Bastar Olympics several times by the Prime Minister in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program is a matter of pride and good fortune for all of Chhattisgarh and especially for the Bastar region.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Bastar is no longer a symbol of fear and backwardness, but is becoming a symbol of trust, development, and possibilities. This change is proof that if policy, intention, and leadership are right, even decades of neglect can be changed.