Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai speaks at a youth-focused public programme at a private hotel in Mahoba Bazar, Raipur, on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026, where he outlined the government’s priorities for a post-Naxal development push across Chhattisgarh. — Photo Credit:channel24india,com via CMO
Chief Minister outlines Bastar’s transformation, tourism potential, transparent recruitment, tribal development, education, healthcare and new industrial investment
Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026, said that with Naxalism no longer obstructing development, Chhattisgarh was moving ahead on the path of coordinated progress, with the government focusing on balanced development from Surguja to Bastar.
Speaking at a youth-focused public programme held at a private hotel in Mahoba Bazar, Raipur, Sai said Naxalism had for years remained one of the biggest impediments to Chhattisgarh’s development, particularly in Bastar.
Referring to the campaign against Left-Wing Extremism, Sai credited the Centre-state coordination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s strategy and the courage of security personnel for what he described as Chhattisgarh becoming “Naxal-free.”
With security conditions improving, he said, the challenge now was to ensure that development reached communities across the state and that areas affected by violence for decades received opportunities in education, healthcare, tourism, employment and infrastructure.
Bastar’s Tourism Potential
Sai said Chhattisgarh had enormous potential to emerge as a major tourism destination, particularly through Bastar’s distinctive combination of natural beauty and tribal culture.
He referred to Chitrakote Falls and Dhudmaras village, saying the latter had gained international recognition as a tourism village. Activities such as bamboo rafting and homestays, he said, were helping create tourism opportunities at the local level.
Tourism has also been incorporated into the state’s new industrial policy to encourage greater investment in the sector, he added.
Youth, Recruitment and Education
Turning to concerns affecting young people, Sai said his government was committed to protecting their future and ensuring transparency in recruitment examinations.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honours a recipient during a felicitation ceremony at a youth-focused programme in Mahoba Bazar, Raipur, on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026. — Photo Credit: channel24india.com via CMO
He said action had been taken against those involved in alleged irregularities in the Public Service Commission and asserted that recruitment examinations were now being conducted transparently.
“The government is continuously communicating with the youth. We welcome all their suggestions. Youth are the future of our country and their suggestions are important in development policy-making,” Sai said.
Education, he added, remained fundamental to development. Schools were operating at different levels across Chhattisgarh and colleges were available in every block. With conditions changing in Bastar, the government was also working towards developing an Education City, for which budgetary provision had been made.
Sai said the government would also pursue the establishment of a tribal university in Chhattisgarh, which could benefit tribal students not only from the state but also from adjoining tribal-dominated regions.
Focus on Tribal Development and Healthcare
Highlighting the state’s substantial tribal population, the Chief Minister said around 6,000 villages in Chhattisgarh had been included under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to the development of the state’s five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
On healthcare, Sai said Chhattisgarh currently had 15 medical colleges, while five additional medical colleges had received approval with a combined 250 seats and were expected to begin classes this year.
He said a super-speciality hospital had been established in Bastar and advanced procedures, including treatment for brain tumours, were now becoming available in the region.
Under the Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan, around 34 lakh people had undergone health screening and about 40,000 had received treatment, he said.
₹8 Lakh Crore in Investment MoUs
The Chief Minister said investment commitments under Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy had crossed ₹8 lakh crore, with projects in sectors such as semiconductors, AI data centres and textiles beginning to take shape.
Special incentives, he said, have been provided for entrepreneurs generating employment for at least 1,000 young people.
Sai also announced that an employment fair would be organised after the monsoon, offering young people opportunities across different industries.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also spoke about the state’s recently introduced legislation against religious conversion through inducement and said the government was committed to taking strict action in such cases.
He maintained that Chhattisgarh’s next phase of growth would depend on combining improved security with education, healthcare, tourism, industrialisation and employment opportunities, particularly for young people and communities in regions that had remained affected by Naxal violence.
