Raipur: In a significant move aimed at improving connectivity in the remote parts of the state, the Chhattisgarh government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has launched the ‘Chief Minister Rural Bus Service’ [CMRBS] scheme.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 4 launched the first phase of the scheme from Jagdalpur, marking a significant milestone in government’s ongoing effort to include the hinterlands of state into mainstream of development.
Flagging off the buses, Union Minister Shah stated that ‘red terrorism’ will soon be wiped out from Bastar and peace will be established in the region. He noted that the ‘double engine’ government is working with commitment for the development of the state and the end of red terror will enable inclusion of far fledged regions into mainstream of development.
Under the 1st phase of the CMRBS, as many as 34 buses will operate on 34 rural routes, providing direct bus connectivity to around 250 villages of 11 districts of Surguja and Bastar, both tribal dominated divisions of the state for the first time.
The prime objective of the scheme is to provide uninterrupted bus connectivity between Gram Panchayats to district headquarters. This will help villagers to meet their education, health, employment and marketing related needs easily, said the government in an official statement issued.
The buses operated under the scheme will entrust timely and safe travel, saving the previous time and resources of villagers, it said.
The statement added that the scheme is a historic step for rural Chhattisgarh, which will pace up social and economic development. The villagers will no longer need to travel long on foot or depend on private vehicles for their needs.
To ensure the success of the scheme in long term, the government has also provisioned to provide viability gap funding for bus operators. This financial assistance will help the operators become economically capable to continue their service in these far-fledged areas. The step will not only boost travel related services but will also contribute in creating employment opportunities at the local level, said the statement.
It must be noted that the state government in close coordination with the Union has been running various welfare schemes in the tribal-dominated regions of the state including those marred by red terror.
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This include the launch of Niyad Nellanar [yours good village] scheme which has turned out to be a major success in Maoist-hit pockets of state’s Bastar division. The flagship initiative operates as an umbrella scheme for the villagers providing them benefits of various government run welfare schemes of both state and the Union Government.
The government has also strengthened counter-insurgency measures such as establishment of security camps, intensified anti-Maoist campaign and launch of a lucrative surrender policy to encourage Maoists to lay down arms and join the mainstream.
