Kumar Bahukhandi
Jagdalpur MLA and Chhattisgarh BJP president Kiran Singh Deo (back row, in a navy waistcoat) joins young performers in traditional attire and other guests on stage at Bastar’s district-level Rajyotsav at City Ground in Jagdalpur on Monday, November 2, 2026. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/PPR
Bastar’s district celebrations put women’s empowerment, youth opportunities and the region’s development goals for 2031 in focus
Key Highlights
- Jagdalpur MLA and Chhattisgarh BJP president Kiran Singh Deo opens Bastar’s district-level Rajyotsav at City Ground.
- Deo highlights paddy procurement, the Mahtari Vandan Yojana and plans for a 24-hour study facility in Jagdalpur.
- The district administration outlines its goal of extending basic services and digital connectivity to every village in Bastar by 2031.
- Beneficiaries receive Ayushman cards and land ownership documents, while volunteers, students and folk artists are recognised.
Jagdalpur: Jagdalpur MLA and Chhattisgarh BJP president Kiran Singh Deo paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his role in the creation of Chhattisgarh while opening Bastar’s district-level Rajyotsav at City Ground on Monday, November 2. The celebration marked 26 years of statehood under the theme ‘Sashakt Nari, Yuva Udaan’, with speakers outlining how better public services and more opportunities for women and young people could shape Bastar’s development.
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s contribution to the creation of Chhattisgarh is unforgettable. He respected the aspirations of its people and gave them a separate state without the need for a major struggle,” Deo said.
From Paddy Procurement to Study Facilities
Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo (in a navy waistcoat) and other guests take part in an Ayushman card presentation at the health department stall during Bastar’s district-level Rajyotsav in Jagdalpur on Monday, November 2, 2026. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Deo said the state government had made arrangements to procure paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal and was providing ₹1,000 a month to women under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. He said the administration was working to ensure that welfare schemes reached people at the margins.
Turning to education, he highlighted the proposed Nalanda complex in Jagdalpur as a place where young people preparing for competitive examinations would be able to study around the clock. He also pointed to Dhudmaras, a village in a predominantly Dhurwa tribal area, where heritage village recognition, homestays and a planned tourism corridor could create opportunities for local youth to earn a living close to home.
Mayor Highlights the Role of Women and Young People
A recipient holds a certificate of appreciation during a felicitation at Bastar’s district-level Rajyotsav at City Ground in Jagdalpur on Monday, November 2, 2026. Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo (in a navy waistcoat) is among the guests on stage. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Jagdalpur Mayor Sanjay Pandey said women and young people had a central role in rebuilding Bastar after decades of Maoist violence. He cited the achievements of women from the region in the armed forces, sport and entrepreneurship. He also pointed to the Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum as platforms that had brought local sporting and cultural talent to wider attention.
“Women’s strength and young people’s energy are the strongest foundations for building a new Bastar,” Pandey said.
He said skills and technology could help more young people start enterprises and create jobs locally.
Bastar Sets 2031 Goal for Village Services
Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo (right of centre, in a navy waistcoat) interacts with beneficiaries holding documents and ceremonial cheques at the district land records stall during Rajyotsav in Jagdalpur on Monday, November 2, 2026. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Bastar Collector Akash Chhikara described March 31, 2026, when he said the region became free of Maoism, as a turning point. He credited security personnel and local communities and said the administration’s focus was now on sustaining peace and accelerating development.
According to the district account, road works worth approximately ₹8,700 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are intended to improve access to interior areas. The Geedam–Bhopalpatnam four-lane corridor and the Antagarh–Jagdalpur rail project were also highlighted, alongside regular flights linking the region with Raipur and Hyderabad.
The district outlined plans to improve irrigation through the Deourgaon and Matnar projects and cited the medical college and super-speciality hospital among investments in healthcare. The account also highlighted the Bastar Mawa and Poona Narkom initiatives and efforts to protect more than 10,000 Devgudi and Matagudi sites.
By 2031, the administration aims to extend road access, electricity, safe drinking water, education, healthcare and digital services to every village in Bastar.
Beneficiaries Receive Documents and Volunteers Are Honoured
Guests toured departmental stalls showcasing public schemes and development projects. Beneficiaries received Ayushman cards, land ownership documents and other assistance during the programme.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to social workers and voluntary organisations that helped run service centres for pilgrims walking to the Maa Danteshwari temple. Schoolchildren and traditional folk artists were also recognised for their cultural performances.
Jagdalpur Municipal Corporation Chairperson Khem Singh Dewangan, Bastar Commissioner Doman Singh, Inspector General of Police Badrinarayan Meena, District Panchayat CEO Tanmay Khanna and other representatives and officials attended.
