Underlining the need to take integrated steps to curb Maoist menace in the state, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said it was a big challenge for him to win trust of tribals of Bastar and convince them that security forces are deployed in the area solely for their security and safety.
Baghel was discussing on the challenges before the state on Naxal front at his official residence with trainee IPS officers from across the country who were on a visit to the state on Tuesday. He informed the trainee officials that the problem persisting here in Chhattisgarh was different from the other states.
Citing that around 60-80% of the people in Bastar are tribals, Baghel apprised the officials that poverty and unemployment are the biggest problems confronting the state. The livelihood of tribals in Bastar is dependent on minor forest produce and they didn’t accept that infrastructure development done in their region was for their betterment, he said.
Baghel further stressed that there was an urgent need to work in coordination with all the concerned departments there like education, health, Panchayat, power and forest. He also underlined the need for focusing on providing tribal ruralites the opportunities of employment, development and social repute to win their trust.
The 22 officials who were visiting the state are of 2018 batch getting training at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad and 7 among them are of Chhattisgarh cadre.
