Raipur. Forests, natural wealth and tribals have been the identity of Chhattisgarh for centuries. Almost half of the state’s land is forest, where the glorious primitive culture of Chhattisgarh flourishes. Despite the entire life of tribals being based on forests, their distance from forests increased with time. Like other tribal areas of India, the tribals of Chhattisgarh also had to fight for their rights on water-forest-land. The dream of separate Chhattisgarh state was the dream of return of these rights.

The return of land to the farmers of Lohandiguda started

Due to the development, trust and security policy of the Chhattisgarh government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, the lives of the people living in Vananchal have started changing rapidly. Mr. Baghel’s government made plans keeping in mind the needs and expectations of the tribal society and implemented them with full sensitivity. As soon as the government was formed, it started with the return of land to the farmers of Lohandiguda. 4200 acres of land acquired from 1707 farmers for a private steel plant in 10 villages of Lohandiguda area of ​​Bastar was returned. With this, the residents of that place will be given leases for agricultural business. New industries will be established. For the first time after independence, 2500 farmers of Abujhmad area were given Masahti Khasra. Till now the work of survey of 18 villages of Abujhmad has been completed and survey of 2 villages is under process.

Huge increase in Tendupatta collection rate

In order to bring rapid changes in Vananchal, the state government has increased the tendu leaves collection rate from Rs.2500 per standard bag to Rs.4000 per standard bag, arrangements have been made for collection, valuation and sale of 67 types of minor forest produce at the support price. By processing them locally and adding value, the state government has not only increased the income of the tribals, but has also created employment opportunities.

Forest produce collectors are getting highest remuneration

From the year 2018-19 to the year 2022-23, 12 lakh 71 thousand 565 quintals of minor forest produce were purchased in the state on the support price, the total value of which is Rs 345 crore. Chhattisgarh is the state which pays the highest remuneration to the collectors for collecting forest produce. Shaheed Mahendra Karma Tendupatta Collector Social Security Scheme was launched in August 2020 to provide social security to Tendupatta collectors. Under the scheme, a grant amount of Rs 57.52 crore has been made available to 3827 beneficiaries.

Glorious event of tribal dance festival

Glorious events like the National Dance Festival were started by the state government to acquaint the country and the world with the tribal culture of tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh. By conserving and promoting Devgudiyas and Ghotulas, the state government has saved and nurtured the primitive life values. Under the leadership of Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, the government has significantly increased the amount given for the construction and repair of Devguri, Thakurdev and cultural center Ghotul.

Amount increased five times for Devguri, Ghotul

In the year 2017-18, assistance of one lakh rupees was provided per Devguri, the state government has increased the limit up to Rs 5 lakh per Devguri, Ghotul construction, repair in the year 2021-22. In the last three and a half years, an amount of Rs 51 crore 55 lakh 83 thousand has been approved for 2763 Devgudis. Along with this, efforts are also being made to preserve the Ghotul tradition prevalent in the Abujhmadia tribal communities. In the year 2022-23, an amount of Rs 4.70 crore has been approved for the construction of 104 ghotuls in Narayanpur district.

Chief Minister Adivasi Parab Samman Nidhi Scheme

Mukhyamantri Adivasi Parab Samman Nidhi Yojana has been started by the government with the aim of preserving the culture and tradition of Teej-festivals of the tribals and to transfer these festivals and festivals to the next generation and to record the cultural traditions.

World Tribal Day Public holiday on Tribal

Due to the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the state, the tribal society has got strength in water-forest-land. Individual forest rights, community forest rights and rights to community forest resources as well as forest rights in the reserve area were given to the forest dwellers. World Tribal Day is a great festival of tribal society. The state government has started celebrating it with full dignity and grandeur. To increase the pride of tribals in Chhattisgarh, a public holiday has been declared on World Tribal Day.

Leading state in giving forest rights recognition certificate

Chhattisgarh is the leading state in the country in the matter of giving rights to the tribals and traditional residents of the land occupied in the forest areas of the state. Forest rights recognition letters are being distributed after re-reviewing the canceled claims in the state. In the last five years, 59,791 individual, 25,109 community forest officer letters have been distributed. For the first time in the country, the process of providing individual forest rights, community forest rights and community forest resource rights letters in urban areas was done in Chhattisgarh.

Special initiative for destitute tribal women

In Dhamtari district, the process of conferring habitat rights on particularly vulnerable tribes in the state was initiated. So far, 23,571 individual forest rights letters, 2360 community forest rights letters and 184 community forest resource rights letters have been provided to the especially vulnerable tribal groups in the state. Out of the distributed individual forest rights letters, 17,411 forest rights letters have been distributed to single women (widow, poor, unmarried, divorced).

Community Forest Rights Letter given in National Parks

So far 18 community forest rights letters have been provided in the sanctuaries and national parks in the state. So far, 3694 community forest rights resources have been recognized in various districts of the state, under which Gram Sabhas have been given the right to conserve, promote and manage 17,29,237 hectares of land. Under 4,54,415 individual forest rights letters, 3,70,275 hectares of land has been given to the beneficiaries in the state in the last 4.5 years. As per recognition of community forest rights, 45,847 letters have been distributed, under which 19,83,308 hectares of land has been provided. Community forest resource rights letters have been issued to 3,731 gram sabhas and rights over 15,32,316 hectares of land have been handed over.

More than 5 lakh tribal families got the means of livelihood

The land allotted under Forest Rights and Recognition Certificate has become a source of livelihood for more than 5 lakh families in the state. Plantation of fruitful trees is being promoted on the land provided under Community Forest Rights and Forest Resource Rights. Teji pattas are being distributed in Abujhmad area under the Forest Rights Act.

Rights will be given by PESA law

The Government of Chhattisgarh is making serious efforts to implement the rules of PESA Act. With the PESA Act becoming a rule, its implementation will now become easier. This will bring a sense of self-reliance and self-reliance among the people of the tribal society. The authority of the Gram Sabha will increase. 25 percent of the members of the Gram Sabha will be from the tribal community and out of this 50 percent, one fourth of the members will be women. The chairman of the Gram Sabha will be a tribal only. Female and male presidents will get a chance to lead in an interval of one year. They will also have the right to take decisions in the development of the village and settle mutual disputes.

Increased income of tribals, change in life

Due to the policy of development, trust and security of the Government of Chhattisgarh, there has been a rapid change in the lives of the people living in Vananchal. The government is working fast to increase the income of tribals and to provide basic facilities to them.