Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has instructed the hostel-ashrams and residential schools of the state to make all facilities and orderly. He said that hostel-ashrams should be developed into such excellent centers of education that the ministers, legislators and collectors have to be recommended for admission of children here. Children should get high level facilities for study, teaching, sports activities in hostel-ashrams. The officer-employees including the collector were also keen to get their children admitted to these hostel-ashrams. They should make clean colors in hostels, provide facilities like computer and library for children. He directed the Sarguja and Bastar Development Authority, DMF and CSR to use the funds for these works. Mr. Baghel gave these instructions while reviewing the departments of School Education, Tribal Welfare and Cooperation Minister Dr. Premasai Singh Tekam at his residence office here today.
The Chief Minister said that the regional MLAs and Ministers should be asked to adopt at least one hostel ashram in their respective areas. In the hostel ashrams, arrangements for mattresses, sheets as well as water in bathrooms and sanitation for children should be ensured. Officers regularly inspect hostel ashrams and ensure all arrangements. Baghel said that a large number of farm development works have been done in the state. Use of fresh vegetables, greens, locally produced milk, products of women self-help groups in hostels and ashrams will benefit local farmers and women. It was informed in the meeting that self-help groups have supplied food grains, vegetables, spices worth about Rs.28.8 million for the children of hostel-ashrams. About 7 crore 17 lakh sheets and blankets have been supplied by the village industries unit. In the year 2020-21, orders have been given to the Village Industries Department to prepare one and a half thousand uniforms for the students of Eklavya School and an amount of one crore has been given in advance. The Chief Minister said that good quality soap is being produced by women self-help groups. They can also be used in hostel-ashrams. He also instructed to use ready-made items in Gothan for everyday use.
In order to provide good employment opportunities to the students in the present scenario, Mr. Baghel instructed senior officers to conduct studies in which areas can get good employment opportunities. He said that minor forest produce and forest medicines are very important from the economic point of view in the tribal area. Planting of these species should also be taught to children by informing them about the economic importance of products like Mahua, Char Chironji, Lacquer, Tendupatta, Imli, Sal seed, Vanaushadhi. While reviewing the status of distribution of forest rights pattas, the Chief Minister said that trees and fruit species of these useful species should be planted in the forest dwellers and traditional residents who have been given forest rights. This will also protect forests and people will also get income. Pots should be prepared from MNREGA for planting and saplings should be made available from the forest department. Tree guards made of bamboo should be used on priority so that those working in bamboo can get income.
