logo
Chhattisgarh outlines ambitious development vision, highlights Bastar's transformation at NITI Aayog meet

Chhattisgarh outlines ambitious development vision, highlights Bastar's transformation at NITI Aayog meet

RAIPUR: At the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh presented its ambitious long-term development vision, highlighting the transformation of the Bastar region.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that Bastar, once known for Maoist violence, is now emerging as a national model for development, employment generation, and self-reliance. He shared a forward-looking plan to transform the state into a Rs 75 lakh crore economy by 2047.
'Our ambitious plan will be achieved through the 3T Model—Technology, Transparency, and Transformation. As part of this long-term agenda, the government has prepared a comprehensive roadmap named the 'Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision Document'. This document outlines integrated strategies for economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability," the chief minister said.
The CM added that the state aims to double its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) within the next five years.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AAI approves incentive scheme to promote international flight connectivity at Port Blair Airport
AAI approves incentive scheme to promote international flight connectivity at Port Blair Airport

The Print

time27 minutes ago

  • The Print

AAI approves incentive scheme to promote international flight connectivity at Port Blair Airport

Port Blair, Jun 2 (PTI) To promote international flight connectivity, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a mega incentive scheme at 13 airports which includes Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an official said here. This scheme will be applicable for first three years of the operations to bridge the viability gap for the initial phase, which is a very crucial phase for the sustainability of operations. Speaking to PTI, Port Blair Airport Director Devender Yadav said, 'As per this scheme for the first year 100 per cent UDF (User Development Fees) which is Rs 709 per departing passenger will be waived off to the airline. For the second year, the incentive will be 85 per cent of UDF and for the third year incentive will be 65 per cent of UDF.' Considering the flight load of 180 passengers, the incentive scheme has the potential of savings of Rs 128 lakh per flight for airlines, which is a significant amount to bridge the viability gap, he said.

Operation Black Forest—how Modi-Shah's push for a Naxalism-free India is gaining ground
Operation Black Forest—how Modi-Shah's push for a Naxalism-free India is gaining ground

The Print

time27 minutes ago

  • The Print

Operation Black Forest—how Modi-Shah's push for a Naxalism-free India is gaining ground

A significant achievement has been the elimination of a top Maoist leader, Basavaraju or Nambala Keshava Rao, in Chattisgarh's Abujhmad on 21 May. This operation, code-named Operation Black Forest, was aimed at dismantling Naxal and Maoist networks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are determined to eradicate Left Wing Extremism in the country and this was reflected in the latter's words: 'Our target is to end it completely by March 31, 2026.' While India celebrated the success of Operation Sindoor, another effective operation was underway in the heartland of India. The war against Left Wing Extremism has been quietly and steadily taking place in the country's interiors where a Red corridor existed from 'Pashupati to Tirupati', undermining the progress made under the democratic reforms as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution. What is Naxalism? Naxalism is a far-Left political ideology inspired by a blend of Lenin's ideologies, Karl Marx's theories, and Mao Zedong's form of Communism. It derives its name from Naxalbari, a hamlet in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, where a group led by the trio of Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal, rose up and created an armed conflict in 1967. The uprising was speedily quashed by the state government. But it sparked off a nationwide movement, all the way from the borders of Nepal to the temple towns of southern India. The Naxalites used violence in the name of ideological or philosophical ideals. They called it an uprising against injustice and class struggle, or an armed revolution, where ideologies were imported from the Communist Bloc to destroy democratic values in India. The movement is also influenced by Mao's People's War, based on guerrilla warfare and rural uprising, hence giving rise to the moniker 'Maoists'. The Maoists consider the country and the Indian Constitution as their enemy and constantly engage in guerrilla-style warfare against the state. After Charu Majumdar's death in 1972, the Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist, which he founded, weakened and splintered up, only to get a new lifeline in the 1990s and early 2000s. While the Communist parties remained within the parameters of the Constitution, the CPI (Maoist) operated as a fringe outfit, indulging in law and order violations with a militant mindset to fight the state. Their activities extended in primarily rural, mineral-rich, and underdeveloped belts of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The central goal has been to capture power through armed insurrection and violence. The CPI (Maoist) emerged in 2004 with the merger of splinter groups, namely the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War and the Maoist Communist Centre of India. While China, the country where this ideology originated, does not allow such extremist philosophies to operate on its soil, in India, these organisations have been placed on terrorist list and are banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Also read: The very people that Naxals claimed to fight for have rejected them Why was it important to curtail Maoism? According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Maoist insurgency has become a serious internal security challenge and an 'impediment to the nation-building process'. The Maoists had set up a parallel government in remote and less–inhabited areas, leading to a governmental vacuum and a concerning security situation that threatened the integrity and sovereignty of India. They do not recognise private investment and infrastructure development, and are against government welfare schemes. They ran parallel governments, engaged in unlawful activities like arms trafficking and extortion, and obstructed the functioning of schools and hospitals to ensure their sphere of influence prospered. The principles of Maoism erode the very tenets of democracy, as they are against free and fair elections and the democratic process. Maoists claim to protect the interests of the tribals and the landless, but in reality, they deny access to development and welfare for these neglected people. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, the Maoist insurgency has claimed nearly 12,000 lives since 2000. Not only are the poor civilians caught in the crossfire between the insurgents and the police forces, but valuable resources and funds that could be used for infrastructural development are diverted for anti-insurgency operations. There ought to be no misunderstanding: Maoists are a threat to national security, as they vociferously reject the Indian Constitution and aim to overthrow democratically elected governments through violence and anarchy, with the ultimate aim to control resources and create a parallel economy of terror and disruption. Economic consequences of the 'Red' movement The 'Red corridor' has been reduced to a handful of 'Red' hotspots, as per the MHA. The economic consequences of Left Wing Extremism have been far-reaching and monumental, mainly due to loss and damage to infrastructure, power lines, bridges, railway tracks; and the costs of deployment of security forces, loss to industry and mining operations. Further, according to a 2009 Hindustan Times report, a parallel economy worth Rs 1,500 crore had been operating in Naxal-affected regions, where these LWE groups would extort money from contractors and industrial houses to line the pockets of their commanders. Often, companies are compelled to pay huge sums to ensure their operations are not disrupted. Moreoever, naxalism impacts foreign investments as well. Also read: Success against Maoist leader Basavaraju was unthinkable a few years ago—here's what changed BJP government's action plan In 2006, a Left Wing Extremism Division was created under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor and control this scourge of society. A concerted game plan was initiated to counter this homegrown terror. The Union Home Minister would meet with the chief ministers of LWE-affected states every year and make personal visits to review the situation on the ground. The Cabinet Secretary is also expected to hold regular review meetings with the Chief Secretaries, the DGs and the DGPs. A concerted plan to end the Naxal movement is in place, and it is clear that PM Modi and Amit Shah mean business. 'The day is not far when Maoist violence will be completely eradicated from the country,' PM Modi said last week while announcing infrastructure projects worth over Rs 48,520 crore in Bihar's Karakat. Schemes to strengthen the security forces against LWE have been initiated such as the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), and Fortified Police Station scheme under which 626 such police stations have been constructed. The Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) for LWE-affected areas scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for improving road connectivity in 34 LWE affected districts of eight states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. This scheme envisaged construction of 5,361 km road lengths in LWE-affected states, of which 5,204 km roads have been completed, according to the home ministry. Another scheme, Road Connectivity Project for LWE-affected areas (RCPLWE), worth Rs 11,725 crore, has been approved for the construction of 12,228 km of roads and 705 bridges sanctioned in LWE-affected states under the Ministry of Rural Development, out of which 9,506 km roads and 479 bridge works have been completed. Three telecom projects—Mobile Connectivity Project Phase-I & Phase-II, Provision of 4G mobile services in the villages of aspirational districts, and Saturation of 4G mobile services—are being implemented in LWE-affected areas to improve telecom connectivity. In total, 10,511 mobile towers are planned in LWE-affected areas under these projects, of which 7,777 mobile towers have been installed so far. This will help monitor and control Naxal terrorism in the affected areas. The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), launched in 2018, has also been a game-changer in uplifting underdeveloped districts through data-driven and inclusive governance. The double engine of PM Modi and Amit Shah envisage a holistic integration of former Naxalites into a civil society based on the tenets of inclusion and equality as envisaged by the founding fathers of the Constitution of India, creating a space for positive dialogue and rehabilitation of former rebels. Outreach programmes for the tribal youth are being conducted and a budget of Rs 52.5 crore has been released for this purpose. It involves influencing the youth through jingles, pamphlet distribution, and documentaries to help them eschew the path of conflict and embrace life under the umbrella of the Constitution. The aim is to mainstream the people by encouraging them to leave the path of violence and choose peace and prosperity to help build an inclusive society. Meenakashi Lekhi is a BJP leader, lawyer and social activist. Her X handle is @M_Lekhi. Views are personal. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)

The Leela Hotels, Aegis Vopak Terminals shares surge up to 10% post listing. What should investors do now?
The Leela Hotels, Aegis Vopak Terminals shares surge up to 10% post listing. What should investors do now?

Economic Times

time31 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

The Leela Hotels, Aegis Vopak Terminals shares surge up to 10% post listing. What should investors do now?

Shares of Aegis Vopak Terminals and The Leela Hotels (Schloss Bangalore) rebounded up to 10% on the BSE after a weak listing on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT Aegis Vopak Terminals listed at Rs 220, a 6.4% discount to its IPO price of Rs 235. However, the stock quickly bounced back, hitting the 10% upper circuit at Rs 241.95. Schloss Bangalore, which owns and operates luxury properties under the iconic "The Leela" brand, debuted at Rs 406 on the NSE and Rs 406.50 on the BSE, a discount of about 6.6% from the issue price of Rs 435. It later surged nearly 7% to reclaim the IPO price level. Expert View"Aegis Vopak Terminals listed at a discount due to muted investor enthusiasm despite strong institutional backing. With the retail and HNI segments under-subscribed, concerns around valuation were evident. Long-term investors may wait for further consolidation before entering, given the company's robust expansion outlook," said Satish Chandra Aluri of Lemonn Markets The Leela Hotels, Aluri added, 'Despite the strength of its brand and institutional interest, retail and HNI participation remained weak. The flat grey market premium had already signaled a subdued listing. Valuation concerns continue to weigh on investor sentiment.' ADVERTISEMENT The IPO, entirely a fresh issue of 11.91 crore shares, was subscribed 2.09 times overall, driven by Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), whose quota was subscribed 4.34 times. In contrast, the non-institutional investor (NII) and retail portions were subscribed just 0.32 and 0.70 times, respectively. Aegis Vopak Terminals is a joint venture between Aegis Logistics and Netherlands-based Royal Vopak. The company operates LPG and liquid storage terminals at five major Indian ports—Haldia, Kochi, Mangalore, Pipavav, and Kandla—with a total capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters for liquids and 70,800 MT for LPG. ADVERTISEMENT The Leela Hotels IPO comprised a fresh issue worth Rs 2,500 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 1,000 crore. The issue was subscribed 2.62 times overall, with QIBs bidding 4.34 times their allotment. Retail and HNI participation lagged at 0.70 and 0.32 times, by Brookfield-managed funds, the company owns five luxury hotels across Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Jaipur, and Udaipur. It also manages several other Leela-branded properties, with a total operational portfolio of 12 hotels and 3,382 keys, positioning it among India's largest luxury hospitality operators. ADVERTISEMENT Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to repay borrowings at key group properties and for general corporate purposes. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store