Chhattisgarh gives thumbs up to Salwa Judum

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday declared his government's full support to Salwa Judum, the forest dwellers' peace movement against Naxalite violences, and promised to take steps to secure their livelihood.

In his Republic Day speech after hoisting the national flag at Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar division, the chief minister said, "It was because of such people and their movement that the country's Republic is secured today."

Raman Singh said the state government would take steps to secure the livelihood of these tribal people and measures for their rehabilitation.

Singh said his government has fulfilled the promises it had made to people and was able to maintain the confidence people had reposed on it.

The chief minister called upon people to take maximum benefit of the government schemes to make Chhattisgarh one of the leading states in the country. He reiterated his government's promise to provide sensitive and co-operative administration to the people.

In his address, Singh said his government has already distributed more than one lakh land right documents to tribals under the Forest Dwellers Land Rights Act and said additional 1.5 lakh forest dwellers would be given such documents soon.

Besides, he also promised that farmers would be given farm loan at three per cent interest soon.

The chief minister spoke about various schemes of his government like rice at Rs 3 per kg to about 37 lakh families, paddy procurement, Rs 270 bonus on paddy and major fund allocation for extension of irrigation facilities.

These steps have helped the state in securing livelihood of a large number of people, he added.