Bastar Olympics is not just a sport, but a celebration of Bastar’s culture, enthusiasm, and talent: Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai
Raipur 15 December 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the closing ceremony of Bastar Olympics held in Jagdalpur of Bastar district today, said that Bastar Olympics will become a success story of Bastar’s development in the coming days and will work to lay the foundation of peace, security, development and new hope. He said that we will completely eliminate Naxalism from the country by 31 March 2026. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that when Naxalism ends from Bastar, more tourists will come here from Kashmir. By the grace of Maa Danteshwari, Bastar has been blessed with the unique beauty of nature. We will promote tourism here. We will create employment opportunities by promoting small industries here. He told the youth of Bastar that the one who gives up never wins. The one who wins is the one who never gives up. There are many possibilities inside Bastar. If any of the 3000 children sitting in front of me wins a gold medal in the International Olympics, the whole of India will be proud of it.
He said that we have worked on both fronts against Naxalism. On one hand, we have deployed security forces against those Naxalites who did not surrender and who indulged in violence and killed them. We have worked to settle those who surrendered and are also running a campaign to develop those Naxal-affected areas which were left behind in development. He said that with the blessings of the people of Chhattisgarh, a double-engine government was formed in the state and our campaign against Naxalism intensified and we are continuously getting success in the direction of Naxal eradication. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, while heartily congratulating the people of Bastar, said that all of you have made the Bastar Olympics a historic success by participating in it with full enthusiasm. More than 1 lakh 65 thousand participants took part in this event. It was a challenge to manage such a large number of players, the entire team of the seven districts of Bastar division accomplished it very well, for which I congratulate them.
Chief Minister Sai said that I feel proud to say that through Bastar Olympics, we have been successful in giving a positive direction to the energy of the youth of Bastar region through sports. This event of Bastar Olympics is not just a game, but a celebration of the culture, enthusiasm, and talent of Bastar. This event gives a message that the real face of Bastar is its cultural heritage and natural beauty, not the violence of Maoism. Through this event, we have oriented the youth towards participating in the development work by connecting them with the administration. Today, when lakhs of youth participate in this Olympics and put their energy into sports, it is a pleasant sign for us. He said that the successful organisation of Bastar Olympics gives us the confidence that if the potential and power of the youth of Bastar is channelised in the right direction, then no one can stop the path of development and prosperity. The players participating in the Olympics also gave the message that the wind of change has started blowing in Bastar.
Chief Minister Sai said that through this event we not only saw the hidden talent of the youth of Bastar but also the talent of those surrendered brothers and sisters who left the Maoist ideology of violence and returned to the mainstream. Naxalism will not be solved only by police action but by providing education, sports, employment and positive opportunities and Bastar Olympics is the biggest example of this. The smile on your faces today is a symbol of a happy and peaceful Bastar. He said that Divyaangjan affected by Maoist violence also participated in these games. Their courage and passion have shown that the people of Bastar never give up. Bastar has suffered the brunt of Maoism for a long time. But today, Bastar is moving fast on the path of peace and development. This achievement has been possible due to the constant guidance and every possible cooperation of our Union Home Minister. With his better interstate coordination and constant encouragement, we are moving towards eradicating Maoism from its roots. Children and youth participated enthusiastically in the Bastar Olympics, and the elderly also enjoyed these games and refreshed the memories of their childhood and school life.
The Chief Minister said that the roots of Maoism have weakened in Bastar, and all this has been possible due to the bravery of our security forces, better strategy, and the democratic faith of all of you. In the last one year, we have achieved great success in our fight against Maoism. During this period, more than 220 Maoists have been killed, 937 Maoists were arrested and 812 Maoists have surrendered. Recently, I spent the night with the soldiers in the security camp of Bastar. This was the most pleasant experience of my life. Seeing the increased courage and confidence of the soldiers, I also felt new energy within myself. The relatives of our Naxal-affected families are also present here on this occasion. I would also like to praise their courage. They have made their presence felt in every forum today from Raipur to Delhi and through them the world came to know how cruel the real face of Maoism is.
One of our biggest successes is that we have been able to bring the rays of democracy and development to the interior villages of Bastar through the ‘Niyad Nella Nar Yojana’. Through the Niyad Nella Nar Yojana, we are providing infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, Anganwadis, drinking water, electricity, mobile towers to the interior villages. Schools that were closed for years have been reopened. To increase the income of the tribal brothers, we have increased the amount of tendu leaf collection from Rs 4000 per standard sack to Rs 5500. The government has also made better arrangements and special provisions for the rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites. In accordance with the Government of India policy, arrangements are being made to immediately keep those who surrender after giving up the path of violence in transit camps. To connect them with the mainstream, training in various skill development will also be provided. With the objective of rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites and Naxal-affected families of the state and to provide them a safe life, the Government of India has set a target of construction of 15,000 houses in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin.
In the new industrial policy also, along with the development of Bastar, we have made special provisions for Naxal-affected and self-surrendered people. Today, in the double engine government, road, rail and air connectivity has expanded rapidly in the entire state including Bastar. Nagarnar Steel Plant and Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor will give new impetus to the development of Bastar region. Commerce and trade will be promoted in the entire region. This will also create a large number of new employment opportunities for the youth. Bastar has also recently achieved a major achievement in the field of tourism. The village Dhudmaras located in Kanger Valley has been selected for the development of tourism under the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Upgrade Program for Best Tourism Village. It is a matter of pride for us that this is the only village in India which has been included in the list of 20 villages of 60 countries. With this, the place of Chhattisgarh and Bastar has been confirmed in the world tourism map.
In the coming days, tourism will also become a big strength of Bastar. New employment opportunities will open up. People’s income will increase. We are committed to the development of tourism here. I congratulate all the winners and would like to say that every possible resource will be made available to enhance your talent. He said that the courage, strength and passion that is in the soil of Bastar will take this region to new heights of development and peace. The end of Naxalism is certain, and this victory of Bastar is the beginning of a new era through sports. The most special thing about the Bastar Olympics was that more than 300 Nuwa Baat (surrendered Maoists) participated enthusiastically in it. Along with this, more than 18 Divyang players affected by Maoist violence also participated. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Tankaram Verma, Lok Sabha MP Bastar Mahesh Kashyap along with other public representatives, a large number of common citizens and sports lovers were present.
