Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today attended the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics as the chief guest in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. On this occasion, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, and several other dignitaries were present.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah stated that the historic Bastar Olympics 2024 is coming to a close today. He said that the Bastar Olympics is not merely limited to the 150,000 children present here, but will become a symbol of hope for all seven districts of Bastar. He further mentioned that in coming days the Bastar Olympics willbecome a saga of Bastar’s development and will deal a decisive blow to Naxalism.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Bastar is changing today, but when the Bastar Olympics will be held in 2026, we can surely say that our Bastar has changed. He said that these games have initiated the transition from "changing" to "completely changed”. He further mentioned that the positive energy of the Bastar Olympics will prevent millions of tribal youths from straying down the wrong path, connect them with the process of building India, and become a means for the welfare of millions of rural and tribal people. Shri Shah added that the Bastar Olympics will lay the foundation for peace, security, development, and new hopes in the region. He emphasized that half of the medals won by India in international competitions are brought by our children from tribal families. He expressed confidence that the Bastar Olympics and the development initiated through them will open the horizons of the world for the tribal children of Bastar in the coming days. He said that the wheelchair race of differently abled people affected by Naxal violence will become a symbol of pace of Bastar’s development.

Shri Amit Shah recalled a time when Bastar lacked basic amenities like electricity and water, faced famine, and saw schools being burned and dispensaries and hospitals closed. However, he highlighted that in the past year, the state government has launched a massive campaign to transform the villages of Bastar. He mentioned that although the central government did not receive support from the state government over the last five years, but when his party formed the government, the campaign against Naxalism again intensified. He noted that within just one year, 287 Naxalites were neutralized, nearly 1,000 were arrested, and 837 surrendered.

Union Home Minister urged the Naxalites to abandon the path of violence, join the mainstream of society, and move forward on the path of development, contributing to the progress of Chhattisgarh. He emphasized that the Chhattisgarh government has introduced the most attractive surrender policy in the entire country. Shri Shah further stated that the Chhattisgarh government is committed to implementing over 300 public welfare schemes from both the Government of India and the state government in every village across the state. He highlighted the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme as an initiative aimed at transforming villages into a paradise. He noted that today, schools are operational in Bastar, electricity has been provided, phone connectivity is available, roads are being constructed, drinking water is accessible, and every tribal person receives 5 kg of food grains per month. Additionally, the Modi government is providing free medical treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh.

Shri Amit Shah highlighted that in the past 10 years, the Modi government has tackled Naxalism on two fronts. On one hand, the security measures against Naxalites involved in violence have been strengthened, effectively curbing their activities. On the other hand, efforts have been made to rehabilitate surrendered Naxalites. He emphasized that the Modi government has also focused on developing Naxalism-affected areas, which had fallen behind in the development race. Because of the efforts of the Modi government, there has been a 73% reduction in the deaths of security forces and a 70% reduction in civilian casualties in areas plagued by Naxalism since 1983. The Home Minister reaffirmed the Modi government's commitment to completely eradicating Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that once Naxalism is eradicated, Bastar will attract more tourists than Kashmir due to its abundant natural beauty. He highlighted that the Modi government is focused on promoting tourism, small-scale industries, and the dairy sector within the cooperative framework in the region. Additionally, the government is working to support tribal farmers by purchasing their paddy at Rs. 3,100 per quintal. Shri Shah announced that a similar scheme will be introduced soon for the purchase of Tendu leaves, ensuring that farmers are treated fairly and that funds are not diverted to Naxalism. He also mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has approved the construction of 15,000 additional houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the families of those who surrendered, or were disabled due to Naxal violence, or were killed in Naxal attacks. Of these houses, more than 9,000 houses are being built in Bastar. This, he said, reflects the deep empathy Prime Minister Modi has for the Naxalism-affected areas.

Shri Amit Shah expressed confidence that when the Olympic Games will be held in India in 2036, one of the children present at this Bastar event will win a medal for the country, and the entire nation will be proud. He emphasized that Prime Minister Modi's core mantra is "Sports for All, Sports for Excellence," and the government is committed to realizing this vision in Bastar. Shri Shah assured that Bastar will achieve 100% saturation in development, tourism, peace, and the implementation of all public welfare schemes, and that Chhattisgarh will soon be completely free from Naxalism.

Union Home Minister highlighted that over the past 10 years, Prime Minister Modi has advanced the protection of water, forest, and land, alongside prioritizing security, respect, and inclusive development. He noted that PM Modi has worked tirelessly to establish peace and stability by eradicating Naxalism, and has built museums across the country to honor the sacrifices of hundreds of tribal freedom fighters who gave their lives for the independence struggle. Shri Shah further stated that Modi ji declared 15 November, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day). He also pointed out that in 2013-2014, the tribal welfare budget was Rs 28,000 crore, but under Prime Minister Modi, it has been increased to Rs 1,33,000 crore for the year 2024-2025. Shri Shah emphasized that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is fully committed to the development of tribal areas, villages, and tribal youth who have long been left behind in the development race.

Shri Amit Shah stated that in the past, the District Mineral Fund was primarily used for industrial purposes, but under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, a significant portion of this fund has been redirected towards the development of tribal villages. He added that over the last 10 years, an additional Rs. 97,000 crore has been allocated to tribal areas. He highlighted that during this period, 708 Eklavya Model Residential Schools were established at a cost of Rs. 6,400 crore, which is 27 times more than the number built during the previous government's 10-year tenure. Shri Shah also mentioned that the Modi government allocated Rs. 7,000 crore for the Janjatiya  Adarsh Gram Yojana, Rs. 15,000 crore for the Prime Minister PVTG Development Mission, and provided comprehensive facilities to 5 crore tribal people across 63,000 villages under the Janjatiya Unnat Gram Yojana.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation emphasized that it is our collective responsibility to establish peace in Bastar, foster its development while preserving its natural beauty, and attract tourists from around the world. He stated that this can only be achieved through the construction of roads, the introduction of railways, the provision of electricity and water, and, most importantly, the establishment of peace, which he noted, will only be realized once Naxalism is completely eradicated.

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