The soul of India resides in its villages, and the spirit of those villages is reflected in the culture, traditions, and nature-connected lifestyles of tribal communities. Tribal communities, which have lived in harmony with water, forests, and land for centuries, are at the center of the nation’s development today. This is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to extend the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas” to tribal areas.
Carrying forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chhattisgarh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev, has launched the “Public Participation, First,” campaign. This is not just a government campaign, but a humanitarian effort to bring the light of development to those at the bottom of the pyramid, who for years were considered out of the mainstream.
This campaign, running from May 18th to 25th as part of the Tribal Dignity Festival, will serve as a means of reinvigorating the respect, self-confidence, and rights of tribal communities. When the government reaches out to every village to listen to people’s problems, provide information about schemes, and ensure solutions, the true power of democracy will be revealed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always maintained that the dream of a developed India remains incomplete until the country’s tribal regions are fully integrated into the mainstream of development. This is why unprecedented transformation is being witnessed in tribal areas through schemes like the PM Janman Yojana, Dharti Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, and the Sarve Setu App. Chhattisgarh has distinguished itself at the national level through the successful implementation of these schemes.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai himself comes from the tribal community. Therefore, he intimately understands the pain, struggles, and potential of tribal life. Under his leadership, the state government has ensured that development is not limited to cities, but reaches forests and remote settlements equally. This sensitivity is the greatest strength of this campaign. The Principal Secretary of the Department, Shri Sonmani Bora, is committed to ensuring that this public participation campaign achieves its objectives. This campaign, being implemented through the state’s 1,544 selected PM Janman villages, 6,691 Dharti Aaba villages, and 7,222 Adi Seva Kendras, will build a new bridge of trust between the administration and the public. Activities such as health awareness, public hearings, service saturation, and prompt grievance redressal prove that the government is not only formulating plans but also committed to ensuring that their benefits reach every person.
Today, the need is not just for development, but for participatory development. Only when tribal communities themselves become partners in the development journey will the foundation of a self-reliant and developed India be strengthened. This message of “Furthest, First” truly identifies a new India, where no community, no village, and no individual will be deprived of development. This campaign, which began in Chhattisgarh, can become a national model for tribal upliftment in the future. It is not just the implementation of schemes, but also tribal respect, social justice, and a celebration that connects the dreams of a developed India with the aspirations of every person.