TOI exclusive: Bastar today reflects a shift built on dignity restored, says Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai

RAIPUR: On Saturday, as Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai completes two years in office, he feels the state has taken rapid strides by focusing on restoring confidence in institutions, security and ensuring fairness.

“In the coming three years, our direction is shaped by Chhattisgarh Vision 2047, which sets a long-horizon agenda rooted in human capital, diversified industry, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and empowered communities,” Sai told TOI in an exclusive interview.




As the country aims to see the end of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by Mar next year, Sai said, “Bastar today reflects ashift built on dignity restored. Roads reach hamlets that were once isolated due to Maoist violence. Mobile towers and public services operate where silence and fear had set the limits to daily life. The unfurling of the national flag in the interior regions now symbolises belonging rather than distance.”

“The Bastar Investor Connect has a Rs 52,000 crore plan combining public infrastructure with private investment. The first event alone saw proposals expected to generate more than 2,100 direct jobs. Policies prioritise projects that invest over Rs 1,000 crore or create over 1,000 local jobs,” the CM said. Chhattisgarh being a mineral-rich state, the CM feels the state’s natural resources could push development in a big way. “We are moving from a state known for raw materials to one known for creating value around them. Our next identity will be based on value addition,” he said.

“Mineral wealth must translate into human development. Value addition within the state will ensure steel, cement and other products are manufactured here rather than exported as raw ore. Mining revenue is being invested in roads, power, drinking water, schools and health facilities, with mining districts receiving priority,” the CM added. “The District Mineral Foundation channels dedicated funds into education, health and livelihoods. In Dantewada, for instance, DMF resources support residential schools and coaching centres for tribal children. Local youth are being trained for mining and allied industries. Illegal mining is being curbed with zero tolerance,” he added.

Two years ago, when BJP rode back to governance in Chhattisgarh, a considerable part was in the grip of Maoist

terror, affecting governance across the state. Steadily, Chhattisgarh began taking rapid strides towards the goal of

eliminating Leftwing extremism (LWE) on one hand and ensuring good governance on the other. As the state now

looks at ‘Vision 2047’ with renewed hope, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai speaks to TOI on the

eve of completion of two years in office on a range of issues – from countering Maoism to becoming a mining

powerhouse and from modernising govt functioning to preventing tribal migration. Excerpts …


Your govt completes two years in office. What is your long-term vision for the next three years?

• We have focused on restoring confidence in institutions, security and ensuring fairness. More than 400 reforms have modernised govt functioning. e-Office has accelerated file movement, procurement is now transparent, land records are digitised, and citizens experience smoother, more efficient public service delivery. These reforms collectively strengthen our commitment to good governance. Our economic base has strengthened. With nearly 30,000 MW of power capacity and improving logistics, the state is positioning itself as a manufacturing and data-services hub. In the coming three years, our direction is shaped by Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision @2047. It sets a long-horizon agenda rooted in human capital, diversified industry, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and empowered communities. Our priorities include deepening peace in interior regions, expanding rural and industrial connectivity, improving schools, health systems and skilling, and accelerating growth in food processing, downstream metal industries, green energy and digital services. Every initiative will be judged by one human-centred test: to see if it expands opportunity and moves us toward an equitable, confident, future-ready Chhattisgarh.

Bastar is seeing unprecedented Maoist surrenders and rapid expansion of security camps. When do you foresee irreversible peace in the region?

• Bastar today reflects a shift built on dignity restored. Roads reach hamlets that were once isolated due to Maoist violence. Mobile towers and public services operate where silence and fear had set the limits to daily life. The unfurling of the national flag in the interior regions now symbolises belonging rather than distance. Over 2,386 Maoists, including senior operatives, have surrendered. Many top leaders have been neutralised. This strengthens our resolve to eliminate Maoism by Mar 2026. Irreversible peace, however, is measured not only by reduced violence but by rising aspiration. It will build its roots when young people in remote villages imagine futures defined by learning and opportunity rather than conflict. We are expanding good hostels, land rights security, sports facilities, education and livelihoods. When a child in Bastar dreams confidently of becoming a doctor, teacher, engineer, athlete or entrepreneur, peace becomes self-sustaining.

Camps, roads and telecom towers are expanding rapidly. What is the mechanism to ensure this transformation is employment-led, not just security-led?

• Each camp, road and telecom tower is designed to open a development corridor. A vast network of new 4G towers has opened up employment in digital services, banking correspondence, e-commerce and homestay tourism. Roads and camps have extended ration shops, sub-health centres and schools to more than 400 villages near 70 new sites, driving employment in construction, transport, health and education. The 3,500 crore Rowghat-Jagdalpur rail line, spanning 140 km across Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Kanker, links the region to national rail networks, reduces travel time to Raipur and opens opportunities in logistics, farm and forestproduce markets and tourism. The Bastar Investor Connect outlines a 52,000 crore plan combining public infrastructure with private investment. The first event alone saw proposals expected to generate more than 2,100 direct jobs. Policies prioritise projects that invest over 1,000 crore or create over 1,000 local jobs, with incentives up to 45 per cent for tourism, agro-processing, textiles, IT-enabled services and MSMEs. Women’s self-help groups are credit-linked and integrated into skilling and procurement. Security has opened the door; jobs and entrepreneurship will keep it open.

Govt has announced a target of eliminating Maoism by Mar 2026. What concrete metrics will you use to define ‘elimination’?

• The metrics are clear. Security indicators include sustained decline in incidents, free movement for civilians and administration, and dismantling of leadership structures through surrender or neutralisation. Governance indicators include fully functional schools, health centres and panchayats in previously affected areas; uninterrupted welfare delivery; rising voter turnout matching state averages; and collapsing recruitment into extremist groups. When communities trust democratic development and violence becomes rare, the mission can be considered accomplished. After that, the focus shifts to consolidation and social mobility

What does ‘Viksit Bharat’ mean in the Chhattisgarh context? Can you quantify the targets?

• Viksit Bharat by 2047 means no district remains backward and no block is defined by deprivation. Vision 2047 aims for an economy several times larger than today, powered by manufacturing, services, food processing, green energy and modern agriculture. We aim to raise per capita income, expand high-value industry and position Chhattisgarh as a logistics and data-services hub. Human development targets include sharp reduction in poverty, malnutrition and maternal and child mortality, and measurable improvements in learning, and employability. Universal access to quality schooling, modern health systems and fully connected villages is central. Climate resilience, sustainable mining and stronger local governance form the foundation of long-term progress

How do you plan to redefine Chhattisgarh’s identity — from ‘Rice Bowl’ to ‘mining powerhouse’ to what next?

• Our next identity will be based on value addition. We are moving from a state known for raw materials to one known for creating value around them. This means food-processing clusters near farms, downstream ecosystems around key resources, and rapid growth in IT, logistics, healthcare and education. Reliable power and urban infrastructure have encouraged data-centre and digital-services investments in Raipur and Naya Raipur. Plug-and-play industrial land, a reform-driven single window and incentives aligned with national missions are attracting electronics and semiconductor-linked industries. Our identity must also rest on clean governance, cultural depth and environmental stewardship. Chhattisgarh will be defined not only by what it extracts, but by what it creates.

Nationally, the debate is between welfare and economic reforms. Where does Chhattisgarh position itself on this spectrum?

• We do not treat welfare and reform as opposites. Welfare builds human capability, while reforms generate the growth and revenue that sustain welfare. Universal health coverage is advancing through PM-JAY, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Ayushman Swasthya Yojana and other initiatives. On the reform side, the Industrial Development Policy 2024-30 targets pharmaceuticals, food processing, electronics, green hydrogen and solar energy. Training stipends, streamlined procedures and employment-linked incentives aim to create large-scale formal jobs and expand the tax base. Every rupee of welfare builds capability; every reform expands opportunity. Together, they strengthen a compassionate yet competitive Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh has massive mining reserves. How will you convert mineral wealth into citizens’ prosperity?

• Mineral wealth must translate into human development. Value addition within the state will ensure steel, cement and other products are manufactured here rather than exported as raw ore. Mining revenue is being invested in roads, power, drinking water, schools and health facilities, with mining districts receiving priority. The District Mineral Foundation channels dedicated funds into education, health and livelihoods. In Dantewada, for instance, DMF resources support residential schools and coaching centres for tribal children. Local youth are being trained for mining and allied industries. Illegal mining is being curbed with zero tolerance.

When will Raipur get a truly international-standard airport and cargo facilities?

• Raipur is emerging as central India’s natural logistics hub. Upgrades at Swami Vivekanand Airport aim to meet international benchmarks in terminal capacity, safety systems and passenger amenities. Cargo infrastructure is being expanded through modern warehousing and cold-chain facilities. Regional connectivity under RCS-UDAN is improving links with tier-2 and tier-3 cities, building the traffic base needed for international operations.

How are you addressing long-pending urban issues in Raipur, Durg-Bhilai and Bilaspur — traffic, waste, water, flooding?

• A coordinated urban development programme is under way. In Raipur, a new mobility plan is easing congestion and drainage upgrades are reducing seasonal flooding. Durg-Bhilai is seeing modernised sewage networks and improved internal roads, along with strengthened solid-waste systems. In Bilaspur, stormwater works along the Arpa riverfront and desilting of major drains are mitigating monsoon flooding. Complementing these efforts, the State Capital Region is being designed on the lines of the NCR model to ensure integrated and planned development across Raipur, Nava Raipur and Durg-Bhilai. Across cities, climate-resilient design and stronger municipal capacity are being adopted.

Elephant-human conflict has intensified. What is your long-term mitigation plan?

• We are securing elephant corridors, restoring habitat quality and guiding land-use planning. A unified early-warning system will integrate AI alerts, satellite inputs and collar data. Haathi Mitra Dal volunteers are being strengthened as community stewards. Support for less-palatable crops, sustainable fencing and alternative livelihoods is reducing vulnerability. Rapid-response units, including Gajaraj vehicles, will shift increasingly toward preventive action. Our aim is a landscape where human safety, rural prosperity and elephant movement coexist.

Bastar and other tribal belts continue to show high malnutrition and maternal mortality. Why have reforms not yielded outcomes?

• For years, the difficulty was not the absence of schemes but the absence of the state in conflict areas. Services could not reach consistently. With improved security, Anganwadis now have dependable staffing and supplies. Health services, immunisation and maternal care are more regular. The Niyad Nellanaar initiative is saturating formerly inaccessible villages with roads, power, schools, early-childhood care and welfare entitlements.

What is your govt’s plan to prevent tribal migration, especially distress migration?

• We are strengthening MNREGA, ensuring fair procurement of forest produce and supporting women’s self-help groups with viable enterprises. Eco-tourism, homestays and crafts are being encouraged. Skilling is aligned with local opportunities, and worker registration systems are being modernised so families can build secure lives in their own villages.

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