Bastar: India’s Leading Tribal Region by 2030

Context

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged to transform Bastar, a historically underdeveloped tribal region in Chhattisgarh, into the most developed tribal region in India by 2030. This ambitious vision follows the successful efforts to curb Leftwing extremism and aims to usher in a new era of socio-economic progress for the region.​

Vision for Bastar 2030

• The government is determined to make sure that all the seven districts of Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Dantewada, be the most developed tribal district in the country by December 2030.​
• It aims at transforming Bastar to be a model place of tribal development with infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic empowerment.​

Key Development Initiatives

• Infrastructure Development: There will be all-weather roads connecting every village of Bastar, electricity and accessibility of banking facilities within a distance of 5 km. The primary and community health centres will be set up in large numbers to enhance access to healthcare.​
• Essential needs: The government will offer houses, electricity, toilet, drinking water, gas cylinder, 5 kg of free foodgrains and free medical treatment up to 5 lakh.​
• Economic Development: Processing of forest produce will be established using units that are based on cooperatives and the dairy section will be developed in every district to convert Bastar into one of the top milk-producing tribal areas in the nation.​
• Education and Employment: Educational facilities will be provided and new industries developed that would provide employment to the young people.​

End of Leftwing Extremism

• It has been decided to clear Leftwing extremism (Naxalism) in Bastar by March 31, 2026, and at the end decades of violence and backwardness will be eliminated.​
• Shah compared Naxalism to a cobra that prevented development of the region and stressed on the fact that peace was the basis of development.​

Social and Cultural Transformation

• The government will come up with a special plan to fight malnutrition and have a rehabilitation policy towards those who have capitulated or fallen victims of Maoist violence.​
• The Bastar Olympics, a massive sports event, has seen a significant increase in participation, including a large number of women, indicating a shift towards a more inclusive and vibrant society.

Conclusion

The reason being that by the year 2030, the development of this region will be an example of tribal empowerment in India. The government would strive to guarantee sustainable development and empowerment of tribal communities by focusing on peaceful coexistence, infrastructural and other development, health, education and economic empowerment. The implementation, the inclusion of policies and constant check-ups will make or break this vision but once it has been successfully tried in other tribal areas that are also struggling with the same problem, the tribal population of India will be guaranteed a fair and a successful future.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to the government’s vision for Bastar by 2030, which of the following statements is correct?

1. The plan aims to make Bastar the most developed tribal region in India.
2. The focus is on improving infrastructure, education, and healthcare in the tribal areas of Bastar.
3. The initiative is exclusively funded by international agencies.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3

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