New Direction for Tribal Development – First Meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council Chaired by CM Sai

Raipur, March 11

The first meeting of the Chhattisgarh Tribal Advisory Council following its reconstitution was held today in the committee room of the Legislative Assembly complex, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. The meeting focused on key issues related to empowerment, education, socio-economic upliftment, administrative reforms, and cultural preservation of the tribal community.

Cabinet Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Tribal Advisory Council, Shri Ramvichar Netam, along with senior ministers, MLAs, administrative officials, and all council members, were present.

CM Sai’s Vision for Tribal Development
Welcoming all members to the first council meeting, CM Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized that 32% of Chhattisgarh’s population belongs to the tribal community, making their holistic development a top state priority. He stated that the Tribal Advisory Council is not just a discussion platform but a key constitutional body for policymaking and implementation.

The Chief Minister issued immediate directives on several critical points:

Rectifying errors in tribal caste certificates through a detailed study.
Expanding the protection and development of tribal religious sites, including Devgudi and Sarna sites.
Addressing the shortage of teachers in tribal areas, especially in single-teacher and teacher-less schools.
Ensuring effective implementation of economic empowerment schemes to increase per capita income among tribal communities.
Commitment to Effective Implementation
Cabinet Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam highlighted that the Tribal Advisory Council serves as a strong bridge between the government and the tribal community. Representing one-third of the state’s population, council members bear the responsibility of ensuring government schemes effectively reach the community. He assured that the decisions taken by the council would be incorporated into policymaking.

Key Tribal Development Proposals Discussed
During the meeting, members presented various recommendations focusing on education, livelihood, socio-economic progress, and administrative reforms for the tribal community. The Chief Minister directed swift and effective implementation of these proposals and ensured that policy benefits reach tribal communities efficiently.

The meeting marked a major milestone in the path of tribal development and self-reliance. Key suggestions included:

Increasing the number and improving the facilities of hostels for tribal girls.
Encouraging local-level employment and recruitment in tribal-dominated areas.
Expanding healthcare services in tribal regions.
Strengthening traditional tribal livelihoods through specialized schemes.
Implementing programs for preserving and promoting tribal arts, culture, and traditions.
Government’s Commitment and Policy Framework
Principal Secretary of the Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department, Shri Sonmani Bora, presented a detailed agenda and policy framework to the council.

Prominent attendees included:

Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap
MLAs – Sushri Lata Usendi, Smt. Shakuntala Singh Porte, Smt. Udeshwari Paikara, Smt. Raimuni Bhagat, Smt. Gomti Sai, Shri Ramkumar Toppo, Shri Pranav Kumar Marpachchi, Shri Vikram Usendi, Shri Asharam Netam, Shri Neelkanth Tekam, Shri Vinayak Goyal, Shri Chaitram Atami
Nominated members – Shri Raghuraj Singh Uikey and Shri Krishna Kumar Vaishnav
Senior Administrative Officials Present:

Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain
Director General of Police Shri Arun Dev Gautam
Additional Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Kumar Pingua
Principal Secretary Smt. Richa Sharma
Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Shri Subodh Singh
Panchayat Department Principal Secretary Smt. Niharika Barik Singh
Health Secretary Shri Amit Kataria
Secretary Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo
School Education Secretary Shri Siddharth Komal Pardeshi
Commissioner Shri Padum Singh Elma, and several other officials.
This meeting laid the foundation for decisive action toward tribal development, ensuring better education, employment, healthcare, and cultural preservation in Chhattisgarh’s tribal regions.