Immense potential of employment generation through value addition of forest produce in Bastar:

Positive India; Raipur June 21, 2021
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that there is immense potential of employment generation in Bastar through value addition of forest produce. If value addition is done on the forest produce of Bastar, then there will be no need for the youth of Bastar to go out for employment. Better means of employment and income can be provided not only to the youth of Bastar but also to the people of other areas through the value addition and trade of forest produce. Mr. Baghel said that after processing and value addition of Bastar mango, tamarind and cashew, these products are being sold at very high prices in the country and abroad. The garment made in Dannex factory of Dantewada is being sent to Bangalore. This is a new picture of changing Bastar and Dantewada.

The Chief Minister praised the work being done by the officers-employees and public representatives of Kondagaon and Dantewada district administrations in raising the standard of living of the people of tribal areas and congratulated them. He said that our fields and forests are our real strength, with this strength we are building New Chhattisgarh.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel was addressing the function after inaugurating and performing bhoomi pujan of 788 development works worth Rs 544 crore 86 lakh in Kondagaon and Dantewada districts in a virtual program organized at his residence office today. He unveiled 131 works worth Rs 204.15 crore in Kondagaon district and 657 development works worth Rs 340.71 crore in Dantewada district. On this occasion, Chief Minister virtually interacted with the beneficiaries of various schemes of these two districts and inquired about the benefits they are getting.

Chief Minister said that more and more people should be involved in the work of value addition and in the work of supplying the goods required in various schemes of the government like nutrition campaign. This will not only provide quality material, but will also generate employment providing good means of income to the local people. In this context, Shri Baghel gave an example of egg production by women self-help groups in different districts of Bastar and supplying it to Anganwadis under Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan. He said that earlier eggs were sourced from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for mid-day meal program in Anganwadi centers and schools under Suposhan Abhiyan, now eggs are being supplied through poultry farming by women self-help.

Shri Baghel said that the Tikhur of Kondagaon and Nagri was famous, now the Tikhur of Chhattisgarh will be recognized in foreign countries as well. Kondagaon district administration has taken an initiative to make tikhur drinks and supply it abroad. Similarly, Amchur and Cashew nuts of Bastar used to be bought very cheaply by the traders of Odisha, now they are being sold at a good price by doing value addition in these products. Amchur of Dantewada was earlier sold at Rs 70-75 a kg, today after value addition it is being sold at Rs 600 a kg. Similarly, Bastar cashew nut was sold at Rs 50 to 100 a kg, which is now being sold for Rs 800 a kg after value addition.The local people are getting the benefit of this.

Chief Minister said that good success has been achieved through Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan in reducing the rate of malnutrition in Kondagaon district. Malnutrition rate has come down by 43 percent in this district, which has happened for the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh. Similarly, in Dantewada district also, the rate of malnutrition has come down by 27 percent. Shri Baghel said that water level in Kondagaon has increased by about 10 inches due to Narva development program, which is a big achievement.

Shri Baghel said that the collectors of the districts of this zone should make special efforts to increase the trade of valuable forest produce of Bastar across the country and abroad. He said that it is our priority to bring these ten aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh which are considered to be very backward districts in the category of developing and developed districts.

Chief Minister Shri Baghel performed Bhoomipujan of Kondanar Garment Factory and Tatamari Resort near Keshkal along with Kondanar Sports Academy to be constructed at a cost of Rs.4 crore 72 lakh in Kondagaon. After launching the Aromatic Kondanar campaign in Kondagaon district, he interacted with the beneficiaries engaged in planting aromatic plants. On this occasion, distribution and plantation work of 10 thousand saplings was started under the Nariyar-Mahabhiyan. On this occasion, MoU was signed between Transforming Rural Foundation and Kondagaon District Administration and also between Sun Flag Agro Private Limited and District Administration Kondagaon for setting up essential oil industry. Chief Minister Shri Baghel launched the products prepared by women self-help groups under the UDAN project viz Tikhur Shake, tamarind chutney, tamarind concentrate, 7 types of pickle products and mobile app Nangat Pila for monitoring the Chief Minister’s nutrition campaign. He virtually flagged off the vehicle of Nava Dantewada Garment Factory and Dannex Amchur.