Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has committed ₹75 lakh for the construction of domes in five different locations for the Dhurwa community. Each dome will be built with an estimated cost of ₹15 lakh. Furthermore, he gave his assurance to approve the proposals submitted by 36 sarpanchs from the Dhurwa community, which are aimed at the development of Gram Panchayats. This announcement was made during the Nuakhai Milan समारोह, a divisional-level event, and the inauguration of the ‘Olek’ community building, situated in the Forest School complex of Jagdalpur. The event took place on Sunday.
Sai emphasized the state government’s dedication to the holistic development of the tribal communities. He mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the Dharti Aba Gram Utkarsh Yojana to ensure sufficient resources for the development of villages with a significant tribal population. This scheme is allocated with ₹80,000 crore. Additionally, the Prime Minister Janman Yojana has been launched to uplift particularly backward tribes, aiming to integrate them into the mainstream.
According to Sai, these initiatives are anticipated to foster significant development within tribal areas, guiding the tribal communities towards continuous progress. During the event, the Chief Minister also participated in prayers to the deity Maa Danteshwari of Bastar in a symbolic ‘Gudi’ and unveiled the newly constructed social building ‘Olek’ of the Dhurwa community.
In honoring the Dhurwa community’s hero, Shaheed Gundadhur, Sai remarked that the Nuakhai Milan समारोह embodies their rich culture and traditions. He highlighted the community’s practice of offering grains and fruits to deities before consumption, a tradition that continues to be observed and will be preserved.
Reflecting on the contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sai congratulated the Dhurwa community on the inauguration of the social building ‘Olek’. He said that the new building would be beneficial for the community’s development and for hosting meetings. Sai also noted that Vajpayee formed a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the Indian government, emphasizing the welfare of tribal communities. Vajpayee’s birth centenary is being commemorated as Atal Nirman Varsh.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of the Special Tribal Area Development Authority in the progress of the tribal-dominated Bastar and Sarguja divisions. He acknowledged that former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh established these authorities to ensure essential development projects in these regions, beyond existing schemes.
Focusing on development in Maoist-affected regions, Sai mentioned that the government is committed to providing basic amenities like roads, bridges, electricity, water, and housing, in addition to ration through the Niyad Nellanar scheme in the Bastar division. The goal is to ensure that all eligible individuals benefit from public welfare programs.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, while extending his best wishes to the Dhurwa community for the Nuakhai Milan समारोह, noted that the community’s collaborative efforts serve as an inspiration to the younger generation. He emphasized that preserving ancestral traditions strengthens the community’s unity and culture.
Also speaking at the event, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap, and Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Dev expressed their greetings to the Dhurwa community on the Nuakhai Milan समारोह. The Divisional President of the Dhurwa community, Pappu Nag, delivered the welcome address and briefed the audience on the community’s activities. The Chief Minister and other guests were given a traditional welcome with gifts and attire.
Also present were Chitrakoo MLA Vinayak Goyal, Dantewada MLA Chaitram Atami, Chhattisgarh Beverages Corporation Chairman Srinivas Rao Maddi, Jagdalpur Mayor Sanjay Pandey, other public representatives, Commissioner Bastar Doman Singh, IG Sundarraj P, Collector Harish S, Superintendent of Police Shalabh Sinha, and Dhurwa community officials and members from across the Bastar division.