Chhattisgarh govt. nod for policy to promote tourism in tribal-dominated areas
The Chhattisgarh Cabinet on Wednesday approved a homestay policy to promote tourism in rural and tribal-dominated areas, including the Maoism-hit Bastar division.
The 'Chhattisgarh Homestay Policy 2025-30' was approved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and comes at a time when security forces are carrying out anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar region. Bastar and Sarguja are the two tribal-dominated regions of the State and are known for their natural beauty.
A government official said the homestays would offer a rural life experience to visitors and highlight the regional characteristics of tribal areas, local culture, art and craft. The official added that the policy will benefit the locals by offering them a business opportunity to increase their income, which will play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of 'Vocal for Local' and the development of rural tourism.
Another major decision taken during the meeting was the transfer of government employees. Under the Transfer Policy 2025, there will be a window of 11 days for transfers at the State level. Under this policy, transfers will be approved by Ministers of the departments concerned from June 14 to 25. No transfer would be allowed after June 25. The official, however, said that emergency cases could be considered through coordination and added that the applications for transfers would be accepted from June 6 to 13.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Trump fell for Pakistan's oil hoax, Baloch leader warns of strategic consequences and terror financing
US President Donald Trump Synopsis Mir Yar Baloch rejects Pakistan's claim over Balochistan's oil reserves. This follows a US-Pakistan trade agreement. Baloch asserts the resources belong to the Baloch people. He warns against empowering Pakistan's ISI. Balochistan declared independence in May 2025. He urges international recognition. Trump announced a deal with Pakistan to develop oil reserves. The post has triggered renewed debate over resource ownership. After US President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with Pakistan to explore a "massive oil reserve," prominent Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has publicly rejected Islamabad's claim over the resource-rich territory, asserting that the oil, gas, and mineral reserves lie within the sovereign territory of Balochistan, not Pakistan. ADVERTISEMENT In a letter addressed to Trump and shared via X (formerly Twitter), Mir Yar Baloch declared that Pakistan is making false claims to access the region's mineral wealth for financial gain. He emphasised that the resources, including rare earth elements, copper, lithium, uranium, and oil, belong exclusively to the Baloch people and cannot be bartered or sold by the Pakiststate. "#BalochistanIsNotPakistan," Mir Yar Baloch posted, warning that the Pakistani military had gravely misled US and UN officials, particularly Army Chief General Asim Munir, who reportedly discussed the Balochistan mineral reserves with Trump during a June meeting at the White to The CSR Journal, the Baloch leader called the deal a "strategic mistake," asserting that any partnership with Pakistan over Balochistan's resources would empower the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which he described as a rogue agency with a long record of sponsoring terrorism."Allowing Pakistan's radicalised military and ISI, known for supporting Al-Qaeda and proxy jihadist groups, to exploit Balochistan's trillion-dollar reserves would directly finance global terror," the letter read. "It would endanger regional stability and could contribute to attacks reminiscent of 9/11." ADVERTISEMENT Mir Yar Baloch warned that profits generated through such deals would not reach the Baloch people but would instead fund anti-India and anti-Israel militant operations. He also reiterated that Balochistan declared itself an independent republic in May 2025 and urged the global community to recognise its sovereignty."These reserves are not in Punjab, which is the actual Pakistan," he said. "They belong to the Republic of Balochistan, currently under illegal occupation." ADVERTISEMENT He concluded with a stark message: "Balochistan is not for sale. We will not permit Pakistan, China, or any foreign power to exploit our land or its resources without the explicit consent of the Baloch people. Our sovereignty is non-negotiable."The post has triggered renewed debate over resource ownership, foreign involvement, and Pakistan's decades-long occupation of Balochistan. Whether the international community heeds this warning remains to be seen. ADVERTISEMENT Trump had recently posted on his Truth Social platform, "We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves." "We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership," Trump added. "Who knows, maybe they'll be selling oil to India someday!" (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Will Trump's tariff war push India closer to Russia and China?
Trump 2.0 was expected to be good for India. But after early promise, ties have unexpectedly soured. Mint examines the sudden reversal, what India should do next, and whether recent developments could strengthen the Russia-India-China (RIC) axis. 1. Has the India-US relationship hit a low? Yes. On 27 June, US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, along with an unspecified penalty for New Delhi's continued defence and energy trade with Russia. His rhetoric stung even more than the tariffs. Trump accused India of having some of the 'highest tariffs in the world" and 'the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers." The next day, he escalated further, saying that Russia and India 'can take their dead economies down together." Simultaneously, Trump is cosying up to Pakistan, finalizing a trade deal with Islamabad last week. 2. What triggered Trump's anger? Experts point to several factors. India's reluctance to open up its agriculture sector during trade talks has frustrated Trump. Some believe that the tariff hike may be a pressure tactic to force broader market access. His ire over India's energy and defence ties with Russia is also strategic: it's seen as part of a larger bid to pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Trump, some believe, now realizes he was outplayed by Putin. He is also suspicious of India's growing alignment with BRICS, which he views as an anti-Western bloc. He fears BRICS could start a common currency that could rival or replace the US dollar as the standard currency. Another, more personal factor: India did not credit Trump for helping de-escalate the brief India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year. Pakistan, in contrast, publicly acknowledged his role. Trump is reportedly miffed that India didn't nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. 3. How has India reacted? Though caught off guard by the sudden downturn in the bonhomie, India's response has been restrained. The government has said it will protect national interests while continuing bilateral trade negotiations in good faith. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the India-US partnership is rooted in shared interests, democratic values, and strong people-to-people ties—and has weathered turbulence in the past. 4. Will Trump's actions push India close to the Russia-China axis? That would require a fundamental shift in India's foreign policy, but some experts don't rule it out. Trump has once again unsettled a friend (India) while courting an adversary (Pakistan), which has hit a nerve in New Delhi. Last week, China publicly backed a Russian proposal to revive the RIC trilateral mechanism, calling it crucial for regional and global stability. 5. Could a thaw in India-China ties help? Possibly. After the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020, India-China relations froze. But recent months have seen attempts at normalization, including ministerial visits and a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in October 2024. 6. What should India do? Most foreign policy experts advise caution. India's ties with the US extend beyond Trump's presidency and should not be derailed by short-term volatility, they say. While a stable relationship with China is welcome, they caution that it remains a strategic rival. India, they add, must work to resolve trade irritants and ensure a mutually beneficial agreement with the US. It should reiterate its commitment to a multi-aligned foreign policy and emphasize its long-standing ties with Russia, even as Moscow's share in defence supplies has declined in recent years.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Raipur–Jabalpur Express flagged off: Train service to boost trade, tourism across 3 states – check route, timings
RAIPUR: The new Raipur–Jabalpur Express was flagged off from Raipur railway station on Sunday, enhancing connectivity between Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. The express service offers a faster and more convenient route for travelers between Raipur, Gondia, and Jabalpur, with 15 coaches including one AC chair car, four chair cars, eight general coaches, one power car, and one SLR coach. Regular service for train number 11701 will depart from Raipur at 2:45 pm and arrive in Jabalpur at 10:45 pm. Train number 11702 will depart from Jabalpur at 6 am and reach Raipur at 1:50 pm. This new service will be helpful for business travellers, students, tourists, and daily commuters. It will also improve access to tourist destinations like Nandanvan Zoological Park, Maa Bamleshwari Temple, Kanha National Park, and Bhedaghat. Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh flagged off the train from Raipur railway station. The new service, which will connect three states, was launched virtually by Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Mansukh Mandaviya from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo At the virtual launch, the Rewa-Pune (Hadapsar) Express and Bhavnagar Terminus-Ayodhya Express were also inaugurated. Chief minister Sai said the new train was a gift to the people of Chhattisgarh from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He thanked them on behalf of the state's 3 crore people. He said that Chhattisgarh's rail budget had increased by 21 times in the last decade, with an allocation of Rs 6,900 crore this year. He also highlighted that rail projects worth more than Rs 47,000 crore are underway in the state. Under the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme', 32 railway stations in Chhattisgarh are being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 680 crore. The chief minister mentioned that new rail projects have been sanctioned for the Naxal-affected Bastar region, including the Rowghat-Jagdalpur rail line. He added that the new train service would boost tourism, education, and trade between Raipur and Jabalpur. Pilgrimage sites like Dongargarh's Maa Bamleshwari temple and Bhedaghat in Madhya Pradesh will now be more accessible. The Assembly Speaker described the launch of the Raipur-Jabalpur Express as a historic event that will strengthen connectivity between Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. He said the train would cover the 410-km journey in just 8 hours. Passengers will now be able to travel easily to Gondia, Balaghat, and Jabalpur, which will also give a push to regional trade and tourism. He pointed out that the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' is redeveloping 32 stations, and passenger amenities are being increased at major stations like Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
