The voice of development is resonating in Bastar under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai – Governance has reached the door of trust from ‘Niyad Nella Nar’

‘Niyad Nella Nar’ becomes a living proof of good governance: Where there were guns, now there are books – a new dawn in Bastar moving from fear to trust

Raipur, 25 July 2025: The remote villages of Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, which were cut off from the mainstream of development for years, are today moving towards new hopes and light. Where there was once a lack of basic facilities like electricity, roads, schools, health services and communication, now the same villages are rapidly moving on the path of progress. The foundation of this change was laid on 15 February 2024 in the form of ‘Niyad Nellanar – Your Ideal Village Scheme’ as a result of the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai and his commitment to public concerns. This scheme is a revolutionary effort to ensure sensitive and active reach of the government to those areas, where till now there was only silence of neglect and waiting. Chief Minister Sai has been of the clear belief that setting up security camps alone is not enough, unless the sensitive presence of the government and the ray of overall development reaches there. With this thought in mind, 54 new security camps were established in five Naxal-affected districts of Bastar—Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Dantewada and Kanker. 327 villages falling within the radius of 10 km of these camps were identified and it was decided that a new development model would be presented by linking all of them with 100% schemes. With this initiative, the wind of change has started blowing in the villages. In the field of education, the government approved 31 new primary schools, out of which classes have started in 13 schools. Approval was given to establish 185 Anganwadi centers, out of which 107 have already started, due to which children have started getting the facility of nutrition and primary education. In the field of health care, 20 sub-health centers were approved, out of which 16 health centers have been started. These are the same villages where earlier people had to cross miles of forest even for a common medicine.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sai, special priority has been given to means of communication and contact. Where there was no sign of mobile signal earlier, now 119 mobile towers have been planned and 43 towers have become functional. 144 high mast lights were approved, out of which 92 villages are now illuminated in the dark of night. 173 schemes were made for road and bridge construction, out of which 116 have been approved and 26 works have been completed. This development is not limited to infrastructure only, but it has become a powerful medium of emotional bonding and identity. There has also been significant progress in the field of economic and social empowerment. So far, Aadhar cards of 70,954 people have been made, age certificates have been issued to 46,172 elderly people and voter registration of 11,133 citizens has been done, due to which they have become a participant in the democratic process. Free treatment facility has been provided to 46,172 people by issuing Ayushman cards. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a target of 12,232 houses has been set, out of which 5,984 families have received approval. Under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, assistance has been provided to 4,677 farmers. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, individual toilets have been built in 6,460 houses. To make the kitchen smoke-free, 18,983 women have been provided gas connections under the Ujjwala and Gau-Gas Yojana. DTH connections have also been provided in 30 villages, due to which these villages are now connected to the main flow of information and entertainment.

This change is not just a compilation of schemes, but a new relationship of trust between the government and the public, the foundation of which rests on participation and transparency. People who were cut off from the government for years are now participating in monitoring development themselves. Now the villagers themselves are monitoring the attendance register of Anganwadi, the quality of ration shops and the implementation of government schemes. This is the same Bastar, which has moved from fear to trust and from neglect to participation. This vision of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has once again proved that good governance comes not from mere announcements but from ground implementation. ‘Niyad Nellnar’ is not just a scheme but it is a journey of Bastar’s renaissance – a journey in which guns have now been replaced by books, darkness has been replaced by light and dissent has been replaced by the spirit of participatory democracy.