Under CM Sai’s Leadership, Bastar Echoes with the Voice of Development – ‘Niyad Nellanar’ Opens the Doors of Governance and Trust

Raipur, July 25

The remote villages of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, once cut off from the mainstream of development for decades, are now moving forward with new hope and light. Places that once lacked basic amenities like electricity, roads, schools, healthcare and communication are today fast progressing on the path of development. The foundation of this transformation was laid under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai with a deep commitment to public welfare, through the launch of the ‘Niyad Nellanar – Adarsh Gram Yojana’ on February 15, 2024. This scheme is a revolutionary step to ensure sensitive and active governance in areas long deprived of it, where silence and neglect once prevailed.

CM Sai has firmly believed that merely establishing security camps is not enough unless accompanied by the sensitive presence of government and holistic development. Acting on this vision, 54 new security camps were set up across five Naxal-affected districts of Bastar – Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Kanker. Villages within a 10-kilometre radius of these camps—327 in total—were identified with the goal of integrating them 100% into government schemes and presenting a new model of development.

With the initiation of this scheme, winds of change began to blow in these villages. In the education sector, the government approved 31 new primary schools, out of which 13 have already started classes. Approval was granted for 185 Anganwadi centres, 107 of which have begun functioning, ensuring both nutrition and early education for children. In the area of healthcare, 20 sub-health centres were sanctioned, with 16 already operational. These are the very villages where people once had to trek miles through dense forests just to access basic medicine.

Under CM Sai’s leadership, priority was also given to improving connectivity and communication. In areas where mobile signals were once non-existent, plans for 119 mobile towers were created, with 43 now operational. Approval was granted for 144 high-mast lights, and 92 villages now glow with light even at night. In road and bridge infrastructure, 173 projects were planned, of which 116 received approval and 26 have already been completed. This development is not just physical—it’s a powerful medium of emotional connection and identity.

Significant progress has also been made in economic and social empowerment. So far, 70,954 Aadhaar cards have been issued, 46,172 senior citizens have received age certificates, and 11,133 people have registered as voters—making them active participants in the democratic process. A total of 46,172 individuals have been issued Ayushman cards, qualifying them for free medical treatment. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 12,232 housing units were targeted, of which 5,984 families have received approval. Under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, 4,677 farmers have received financial assistance. The Swachh Bharat Mission has seen the construction of 6,460 individual household toilets. To make kitchens smoke-free, 18,983 women have received gas connections under the Ujjwala and Gau-Gas schemes. Additionally, 30 villages have been provided DTH connections, bringing them into the mainstream of information and entertainment.

This transformation is not merely a compilation of schemes, but the emergence of a new bond of trust between the government and its people—built on participation and transparency. Those who once felt cut off from governance are now actively monitoring development. Villagers are now directly overseeing Anganwadi attendance registers, the quality of ration shops, and the execution of government schemes.

This is the new Bastar, moving from fear to trust, and from neglect to participation. CM Vishnu Deo Sai’s visionary leadership has once again proven that good governance is not achieved through declarations but through ground-level execution. ‘Niyad Nellanar’ is not just a scheme; it is the beginning of Bastar’s renaissance—a journey where guns have been replaced by books, darkness by light, and dissent by democratic engagement.