Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday September 10, 2025 addressing the gathering in a meeting of the Central Region Tribal Development Authority at the Korba Collectorate meeting hall while his deputies Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao look on -Photo Credit CG/PR
Budget of Central Region Tribal Development Authority raised from ₹50 crore to ₹75 crore
Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday September 10, 2025 chaired the meeting of the Central Region Tribal Development Authority at the Korba Collectorate meeting hall. Addressing the gathering, he said that this was the first meeting of the Authority after its reconstitution, being held with a renewed resolve and vision.
Chief Minister Sai assured that the government is taking all concrete measures for the welfare and holistic development of tribal communities, and that there would be no shortage of resources for development works.
The meeting was attended by all the ministers of Sai cabinet where CM Sai chairs the meeting and instructs his cabinet collegues -Photo Credit CG/PR
Announcing a major step, CM Sai declared that the budget of the Authority has been increased from ₹50 crore to ₹75 crore for the better development of Scheduled Tribe communities residing in the Central Region.
Restructuring of Authorities to Ensure Accountability and Transparency
Chief Minister Sai said that the Chhattisgarh government has taken a strong step towards inclusive development by forming the Bastar, Surguja and Central Region Tribal Development Authorities, along with the Scheduled Caste Development Authority and the Chhattisgarh State Rural and Other Backward Classes Development Authority.
He said that the primary aim of these bodies is to accelerate development works in tribal areas, ensure transparency, and deliver public services to every village and every family.
Pointing out lapses of the previous government, CM Sai said that lack of accountability and transparency had marred the functioning of these authorities. Many schemes failed to reach the ground due to poor monitoring. To change this situation, the present government has restructured the authorities. Membership has been broadened to include Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs from the region, district panchayat chairpersons and other important public representatives. Additionally, two social workers and experts working in the field of tribal development have been nominated as members so that their experience and expertise can benefit development planning.
PM Janman Scheme Opening New Opportunities
Chief Minister Sai further said that special focus is being given to education, healthcare and livelihood schemes for tribal communities. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Dharti Aba Tribal Village Utkarsh Abhiyan and PM Janman Yojana have opened up new avenues of development in tribal areas of Chhattisgarh.
These initiatives are rapidly strengthening infrastructure such as housing, roads, electricity, drinking water and digital connectivity.
He added that women’s empowerment in the Central Region was a key priority. Self-Help Groups are being further strengthened with skill training, credit facilities and market linkages, enabling women to become self-reliant. For the youth of the region, technical and vocational training will be provided to prepare them for both employment and self-employment opportunities.
Preserving Tribal Culture and Tradition
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that Chhattisgarh’s tribal culture is rich and must be preserved. He emphasised that the Authority will play a key role in ensuring nutrition, health and education for children of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). He suggested setting up de-addiction centres to inspire tribal communities to give up alcohol, promoting early education and sports, and ensuring permanent pump connections for irrigation in the farms of PVTG farmers.
CM’s Commitment Reflected in Korba Meeting
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao remarked that the Chief Minister himself, as Chairman of the Central Region Tribal Development Authority, had come to Korba along with the entire government to hold this meeting. Notably, such a meeting was last held on November 30, 2019. Holding it in a Scheduled Area demonstrates the CM’s commitment.
Vice-Chairman of the Authority, Pranav Kumar Marpachchi, said that the enhanced budget allocation would significantly boost development works in tribal-dominated areas.
Boost to Education, Sports, Tourism and Irrigation
CM Sai announced several major initiatives to nurture the talents of tribal children and youth. He sanctioned ₹10 crore each for the construction and operation of boys’ and girls’ sports complexes in Korba. Similarly, ₹10 crore each was sanctioned for two more sports complexes dedicated to PVTG players. He also announced ₹5 crore for the establishment of a residential school for PVTG students.
Infrastructure and Tourism Development
To streamline traffic movement in Korba city, Chief Minister Sai announced ₹9 crore for the construction of the Sunalia Bridge. He instructed Forest Department officials to expedite work on the Buka-Satrenga tourism project and directed them to submit a report within two months.
On irrigation, CM Sai informed that ₹2,800 crore has been sanctioned to complete 115 pending irrigation projects that had been left incomplete prior to 2015. Once completed, these projects will provide irrigation facilities to about 76,000 hectares of land.
Under the Central Region Tribal Development Authority, a total of 544 development works worth ₹32.67 crore were sanctioned in 2021-22, of which 539 have been completed. In 2022-23, of the 491 works worth ₹32.72 crore, 482 have been completed. In 2023-24, of 464 works worth ₹32.67 crore, 424 have been completed. In 2024-25, of 508 works worth ₹48.28 crore, 123 have been completed, with the rest in progress. Chief Minister Shri Sai instructed that all pending works be completed at the earliest.
The meeting was attended by Ministers Ramvichar Netam, Dayal Das Baghel, Kedar Kashyap, Lakhanlal Dewangan, Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, O.P. Choudhary, Tankram Verma, Gajendra Yadav, Guru Khushwant Saheb, Rajesh Agarwal; Lok Sabha MP Santosh Pandey; MLAs; district panchayat presidents and members; Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Subodh Singh; Additional Chief Secretary Richa Sharma; Manoj Pingua; Secretary to CM Basavaraju, Secretary to CM P. Dayanand; Bilaspur Commissioner Sunil Jain; the In-charge IG; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests V. Srinivas Rao; Korba Collector Ajit Vasant; Collectors and SPs of other districts and other senior administrative officers.
