Kumar Bahukhandi
During his visit Union Home Minister Amit Shah interacts with women from Self Help Groups undergoing training at the tamarind processing centre at Netanar village in Bastar district on Monday May 18, 2026 -Photo Credit CG/PR
Union Home Minister Inaugurates Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera in Netanar; Digital Governance Reaches Every Doorstep
Raipur: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday May 18 , 2026 visited the CRPF camp at Netanar village in Bastar district, where he inaugurated the Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera (Public Facilitation Centre), marking a significant step in bringing citizen-centric services closer to people in previously Naxal-affected regions.
During his visit, Shah interacted with women from Self Help Groups undergoing training at the tamarind processing centre. Learning about how they are increasing their income through tamarind sales and value addition, he also tasted Bastar’s tamarind and remarked warmly that its flavour was “not sour, but sweet,” appreciating the region’s distinct produce.
During his visit Union Home Minister Amit Shah tastes Bastar’s Tamarind, says it is “Sweet” not “Sour” while Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma looks on at Netanar village in Bastar district on Monday May 18, 2026 -Photo Credit CG/PR
Members of the Gundadhur Women Self Help Group informed the Union Minister that they are engaged in producing high-quality tamarind pulp through scientific processing techniques. Group member Lambi Nag shared that by associating with the initiative, she expects to earn up to Rs 1 lakh annually, opening new avenues of financial empowerment for rural women.
During his visit Union Home Minister Amit Shah tastes Bastar’s Tamarind, says it is “Sweet” not “Sour” while Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and his Deputy Vijay Sharma look on at Netanar village in Bastar district on Monday May 18, 2026 -Photo Credit CG/PR
Union Home Minister Shah later visited the Seva Setu Centre as well , where he met Sukhdevi, a resident of Netanar village. She informed him that she had just obtained an Aadhaar card for her five-month-old daughter Padma. Earlier, villagers had to walk nearly 10 kilometres to Nangur to access Aadhaar services. With the opening of the local centre, residents can now avail facilities such as new Aadhaar registration, Aadhaar updates, KYC services, mobile number updates, and e-Aadhaar facilities within the village itself.
At the centre, Sonamani shared that she had long wanted to complete her e-KYC process under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana but was unable to do so due to the distance involved.
The establishment of the village-level facility enabled her to complete the process on the same day.
The Seva Dera has emerged as a comprehensive digital governance platform, offering villagers access to a range of online services under one roof. Residents can conveniently obtain certificates related to birth, income, caste and other essential documents without travelling long distances.
The centre is also providing Bank Sakhi training to women, enabling them to offer banking services within villages. Through Bank Sakhis, rural women will be able to facilitate cash deposits and withdrawals, open accounts for Self Help Groups, complete KYC procedures, update mobile numbers linked with bank accounts and support SHG credit linkage activities.
The Union Home Minister also interacted with women trainees at the sewing training centre, where both basic and advanced stitching skills are being imparted. Trainee Vijay Kumari said that the skills acquired through the programme would enable her to support her family’s livelihood more effectively.
Shah also held discussions with rural women at the paddy deki training centre. The initiative is expected to enhance women’s income through rice sales while ensuring productive use of rice husk as nutritious cattle feed, thereby creating a sustainable rural economic model.
The visit reflected a visible transformation in Netanar, once regarded as a Naxal-affected area and now emerging as a symbol of development and digital inclusion, where governance is reaching the very doorstep of citizens.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
