Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that the Bastar region has immense potential for tourism. The Chief Minister emphasized promoting Bastar Dussehra, which lasts for 75 days, across the country and especially at the international level. The Chief Minister also directed to formulate plans for the events to be organized during the upcoming tourist season. The Chief Minister also said that it is necessary to involve the private sector in tourism. He said that tourism circuits should be developed and guide training should be arranged so that local youth get employment.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that this region, famous for attractions like Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls, Kanger Valley National Park, and ancient caves, offers amazing scenery and rich biodiversity. Chief Minister Shri Sai directed to start preparations now to promote Bastar Dussehra at the international level.
It was informed in the meeting that tourists can visit vibrant tribal villages, experience traditional festivals like Bastar Dussehra, and enjoy local crafts and cuisine. To improve the visibility and accuracy of tourist places, Google mapping services will be improved with the help of private agencies.
Information was given in the meeting that the new Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2025 will be published soon. There is a plan to lease the existing tourism assets to private hotel entrepreneurs under the Public-Private Partnership model. About Rs 6 crore has been proposed from the revolving fund for the construction of a glass bridge near Tirathgarh waterfall. A proposal of about Rs 40 lakh has been made in the state plan head of financial year 2025-26 for the implementation of Homestay cum Traditional Healing Center in village Pedawad.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai said that the government is working to promote industrial development in Bastar. Several special provisions have been made in the new industrial policy. Creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the people of Bastar division is included in our priority. We can increase the income of local people by utilizing forest resources as much as possible. Various types of minerals and food grains worth approximately Rs 102 crore are exported from here every year, in which iron ore has the highest share.
The Chief Minister said that in the new Industrial Policy 2024-30, there is a provision for royalty reimbursement for the steel industry for 15 years. There is a provision of 40 percent subsidy on the salary of surrendered Naxalites for five years to industries and institutions providing employment to them. There is a provision of 10 percent additional subsidy for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Naxalism-affected people and up to 25 percent subsidy for new MSMEs established by Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Naxalism-affected individuals.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the pace of development in Bastar will be further accelerated with the aim of making the country Naxal-free by March 2026. Several special provisions have been made in the new Naxalite Surrender Victim Relief-Rehabilitation Policy 2025, so that Naxal-affected families and surrendered Naxalites can be brought into the mainstream through incentives, compensation, education, skill development, and self-employment. The Chief Minister said that a concrete action plan for the development of Bastar has been prepared from today’s discussion. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this action plan will give new impetus to the development of not only Bastar but also the entire Chhattisgarh. He called upon all stakeholders to work together in this direction.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap, MLA Shri Kiran Singh Dev, Shri Vinayak Goyal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Shri Rahul Bhagat, Secretaries of concerned departments, Collectors of all districts of Bastar division, stakeholders of institutions related to agriculture, industry, tourism and skill development were present in the discussion on Bastar organized in Jagdalpur.