Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at Dantewada to witness for himself the pace of development process in the insurgency infested Bastar region on Saturday.
His arrival in Bastar served the dual purpose of him participating in the ‘Vikas Yatra’ and also reviewing the security scenario of the insurgency infested region , officials informed.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh last month had invited the Union Home Minister to be with him during the inaugural run of the ‘Vikas Yatra’ and meet the local population who welcomed them both heartily in the region.
Notably, The ‘Vikas Rath’ will pass through 65 Assembly constituencies in the first phase.
During the first three days , Vikas Yatra would be held in Bastar division.Then the Yatra will move to Dallirajhara and Rowghat.
On a single day, there will a two big public gatherings and three welcome meetings and other small gatherings.
The first two locations will be travelled by helicopter by the Chief Minister and then use of ‘Vikas Rath’ will be done after 3 pm. The second phase of Vikas Yatra would be held from August 18 to September 18 .
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh last month had also expressed his satisfaction over the progress made in construction of roads in Naxal-affected regions of Chhattisgarh and said that the work will speed up further, officials informed.
He had added that the Centre will make sure that none of the areas of Bastar remained undeveloped.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had met Union Home Minister at his residence in New Delhi and had discussed in detail about the progress regarding development of infrastructure in Naxal-affected areas.
After the meeting the Chief Minister said that the Home Minister was keen to know about the progress made in construction of roads sanctioned during first and second phases.
On May 8 , last year in review meeting of lWE affected states , Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had stated in his address : “You will all agree that in addition to the various facets of security, the socio-economic empowerment of the people at large is essential so that the public support stays with the Government."
It is necessary for States to work on a coordinated strategy of security and development so that the confidence of the public in the democratic process is maintained in the lWE affected areas, he had stated.
Our Government (Centre) has taken various steps with this objective, so that the confidence in our Government has grown in the minds of the tribals and others living in the lWE affected areas. They are coming forward to avail the benefits of Government Schemes, Singh had stated.
Notably, Dantewada is among 11 districts of Chhattisgarh included in list of 115 Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog in the country, officials informed.
The other districts are- Korba , Bastar, Mahasamund Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon and Sukma .
A total of 115 districts of the country which includes 35 districts affected by left Wing Extremism have been indentified for rapid transformation.
The Central Government has appointed an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary/ Additional Secretary as Prabhari Officer who would act as bridge between District, State and Central Govt. They are to guide district administration in making district action plan and to implement the same so that the concerned district may first try to catch up with the best district in the concerned State and then aspire to become among the India’s best districts. Four districts of Maharashtra have been identified in the list. They are Nandurbar, Washim, Gadchiroli, and Osmanabad. Of these, Gadchiroli has been included due to district being affected by left Wing Extremism.
This programme is implemented in partnership with State Governments. The concerned State Govt. including Maharashtra have joined this programme, and are working in close coordination with NITI Aayog and Central Government.
Given these institutional mechanism, there is no requirement of formally entering into a MoU as States are already working in close partnership with the Central Government.
NITI Aayog has given ‘in principle’ approval to various proposals related to roads, telecommunication, education, Ujjwala yojana and expansion of bank branches for overall development of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar has asked various departments of the Centre to ensure speedy implementation of these suggestions and said that the Aayog will review the implementation process on a regular basis.
At a meeting held to implement Bastar Development Plan jeld in New Delhi at the NITI Aayog recently, senior officials led by Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Ajay Singh had discussed these suggestions with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, CEO Amitabh Kant, other members and Secretaries of various departments of the Government of India.