Welfare schemes ensuring tribal interest, rights: CM

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Sunday that his government through its numerous welfare schemes was determined to develop and protect tribal rights as well as the interests of the indigenous people in Chhattisgarh.

He said this while participating in a convention of Gond community organized in village Bodrabandha in tribal-dominated Gariaband district.

Around three years ago, the number of Minor Forest Produce to be procured on MSP in the state was 7 which has been significantly increased to 65, he said.

Baghel said the Rural Industrial Parks were being set up at three places in Gariaband district. Through these parks, forest produce procured from the tribals will undergo a value addition process and help create an additional source of income for the tribals.

The Minimum Support Price to these forest produce has also increased significantly, he said, and urged the people present at the gathering not to sell their forest produce below the MSP offered by the government.

The Chief Minister said that the forest rights’ land deeds have been disbursed to 21,000 tribals in Gariaband district.

Baghel said that the objective of the state government schemes was meant to put money in the pockets of the people and make them prosperous.