Raipur, November 07, 2025/ In line with the announcement by Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai, identified individuals from the Scheduled Tribe community, including Baiga, Guniya, and Hadjod, will be provided an annual honorarium of Rs 5,000 as recognition and incentive. This scheme will be known as the ‘Chief Minister Baiga Guniya Hadjod Samman Yojana (Scheduled Tribe) Year 2025’. A detailed notification regarding the scheme was issued by the Primitive Tribe Development Department on November 6.
It is noteworthy that to encourage the traditional medicinal practices of Baiga, Guniya, and Hadjod people engaged in traditional medicinal work in the tribal-dominated rural areas of Chhattisgarh, and to recognize their service and contribution, Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai had announced on the occasion of Tribal Pride Day, November 15, 2024, the provision of an annual honorarium of Rs 5,000 per identified individual.
The notification issued by the Primitive Tribe Development Department states that the objective of the ‘Chief Minister Baiga, Guniya-Hadjod Samman Yojana’ is to preserve the traditional knowledge of Baiga, Guniya, and Hadjod individuals proficient in the knowledge of herbal medicines under the conservation and promotion of tribal culture, to transfer it to future generations, and to strengthen their livelihood and service by documenting their medicinal experiences.
The notification also mentions that medicinal knowledge related to herbal treatments is passed down through generations in tribal societies. In villages of scheduled areas, Baiga, Guniya, and Hadjod individuals who have been engaged in medicinal service work for the past three years will be honored with an annual amount of Rs 5,000 each, with the aim of preserving and honoring them.
Individuals of Scheduled Tribe category in Chhattisgarh State, including males, females, and transgender persons, who have been providing services as Baiga, Guniya, or Hadjod in their local area for at least 30 years, and whose families have a tradition of passing down knowledge of herbal medicine for at least two generations, will be considered eligible. Additionally, those individuals associated with registered organizations such as the Plant Medicine Board, AYUSH Department, Forest Department, or Minor Forest Produce Federation will be selected at the village level according to the prescribed procedure.
The recommendations of names submitted by the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat will be approved at the village level by the Village Secretary, Sarpanch, Anganwadi worker, Mitanin, and the headmaster of the primary or middle school. Based on this recommendation, a committee formed at the level of the Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Development of the concerned district—comprising the concerned Janpad President, one Janpad member from the Scheduled Tribe category, Chief Executive Officer (Janpad Panchayat), and Mandal Coordinator—will examine and verify the recommended names. The verified list will be sent to the Commissioner, Primitive Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development Office. The committee will specifically mention members who have received training from a recognized institution.
Based on the proposals received from the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat and the recommendation of the committee formed at the Janpad level, the Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Development, after obtaining approval from the Collector, will send the proposal to the Commissioner, Primitive Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development. The necessary funds will be allocated to the districts according to the received proposals. Subsequently, the distribution of financial assistance will be done by the District Collector, and the list of individuals receiving the honorarium will be publicly read out in the respective Gram Sabha.
“Tribal traditions of Chhattisgarh are a living symbol of our cultural heritage and ancient knowledge. Baiga, Guniya, and Hadjod are respected members of our society who have kept the folk tradition of herbal medicine alive for centuries. To honor their invaluable service and knowledge, the state government has launched the ‘Chief Minister Baiga Guniya Hadjod Samman Yojana’. Through this scheme, we are not only recognizing their contribution but also fulfilling our resolve to preserve their traditional medicinal system and pass it on to future generations.” – Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai