Chhattisgarh which is home to 2.55 crore aspiring people as well as the land of one fifth of India’s iron ore and coal, has achieved more than what was actually desired by people when the State came into existence with a split of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 2000.
With the growth figure in double digit and projects worth million of rupees lined up for a cracking expansion of road and rail network over the next 3-4 years, the State is on fast track of development.
Chhattisgarh has been ranked fourth among the “top five States” in the country, as per the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking released recently. The State now eyes top slot in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ chart next year.
The insurgency-riddled State completes 15 years of its formation on Sunday but despite a higher GDP growth and massive infrastructure build up in one- and-half-decade because of sheer political stability, Chhattisgarh’s progress in tribal belts particularly in vast Bastar region and sprawling Surguja belt, is undoubtedly ‘sluggish’ in terms of education, health, road, rail and drinking water facilities.
The State came into existence on a notion that a vast tribal population of a rich-mineral land had been denied of development and basic civic facilities for generations. But in post-2000 period too, the tribal belt lags development though the present incumbent in the State blames leftist insurgents for blocking development in certain forested patches.
People who are familiar with Bastar which is made up of seven districts, still wonder why tribals need to travel several kilometres on foot in interiors of Sukma, Bijapur and others districts to get an access to a primary health centre.
Top sources in the Government claim that the Central Government has planned to launch a decisive operation against Maoists very soon to allow the local Government take the development to village-level.
Intellectuals and bureaucrats claim that Central Government can’t allow red ultras a free run in Chhattisgarh which is as much as big of European country Greece in territorial size.
Chief Minister Raman Singh greeted people on the eve of the ‘historic day’ and called upon residents to play their active role to make it India’s number-one developed State.
“It is a proud and glorious moment for people of the State. As 26th State of the Union, Chhattisgarh’s growth had surpassed all expectations and set new milestones during the past 15 years,” Singh was quoted as saying in an official statement. He remarked, “It was the dream of our great ancestors that Chhattisgarh should be carved out as a separate State.”