The Goverment of Chhattisgarh is set to launch a large-scale tribal outreach campaign across remote regions of the state from May 18 to May 25 with the objective of ensuring direct delivery of government schemes and welfare services to tribal communities. Under the campaign titled “Jan Bhagidari – Sabse Door, Sabse Pehle,” government officials will travel to thousands of villages to address public grievances, organise service camps and provide immediate assistance related to health, ration, pensions and other welfare schemes.

Officials said the initiative is being coordinated by the Tribal Development Department and will cover nearly 8,235 villages across Chhattisgarh. These include 1,544 villages identified under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and 6,691 villages under the Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. The campaign will be conducted in almost all districts of the state except Raipur.

According to government officials, the programme has been designed to improve administrative outreach in geographically remote tribal areas where access to government services remains limited. Senior officers from different departments have been directed to visit villages personally, interact with local residents and ensure eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of central and state welfare schemes without unnecessary delays.

One of the key focus areas of the campaign will be healthcare services in tribal regions. Health camps will be organised in villages where medical teams will conduct free check-ups and screening for diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and tuberculosis, which have been identified as major health concerns in tribal communities. Officials said treatment support and awareness programmes will also be conducted during the camps to improve healthcare accessibility in remote areas.

Apart from healthcare, the campaign will also focus on ensuring access to essential welfare schemes linked to ration distribution, pensions, nutrition, drinking water and education. Authorities said eligible beneficiaries will be identified on the spot and assistance related to pension approvals, ration cards and social security schemes will be provided wherever possible. The government aims to reduce delays in welfare delivery by resolving smaller administrative issues directly at the village level.

As part of the initiative, “Aadi Seva Kendras” will be established in villages and outreach locations to function as grievance redressal centres. Through these centres, villagers will be able to submit complaints and seek help related to government schemes without visiting district offices or government departments repeatedly. Officials stated that the objective is to make governance more accessible for tribal communities living in isolated areas.

The state government has instructed officers to conduct public interaction sessions and village chaupal meetings during the campaign period. Senior administrative officials are expected to directly listen to public grievances, monitor local problems and coordinate with departments for quick resolution of issues. Government sources said the initiative has been planned to strengthen trust between tribal communities and the administration by increasing physical presence of officials in remote locations.

Authorities have also introduced a digital monitoring system for the campaign. Officials participating in the outreach programme will be required to upload daily reports, photographs, videos and beneficiary feedback on the “Aadi Prasaran” portal. The digital tracking mechanism is expected to help monitor field activities and assess implementation progress across districts on a real-time basis.

Government officials stated that several social and community-based organisations will also participate in the campaign. Instructions have been issued to involve public representatives, women self-help groups, NSS volunteers, NCC cadets and local social organisations in awareness activities and outreach programmes. Officials believe community participation will improve the effectiveness of welfare delivery and help identify local challenges more efficiently.

The campaign is also being linked with programmes such as “Sushasan Tihar” and “Janjatiya Garima Utsav” to increase awareness about tribal welfare schemes and government initiatives. Administrative officials said the broader objective is to improve governance access in tribal regions while ensuring that central and state-sponsored schemes reach intended beneficiaries at the grassroots level.

Tribal-dominated regions of Chhattisgarh have historically faced challenges related to infrastructure, healthcare accessibility and administrative connectivity. Officials believe the latest outreach drive could help bridge the gap between government departments and residents of remote villages by bringing welfare services directly to their doorstep.

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Power Outage Triggers Water Crisis in Rewa’s Dhurkuch Village

Residents of Dhurkuch in Rewa face acute water shortage as prolonged power outage disrupts supply, forcing villagers to fetch contaminated water from forest areas

A prolonged electricity outage in Dhurkuch village of Rewa district has pushed residents into a severe drinking water crisis, with locals trekking nearly two kilometres daily to collect unsafe water from a forested patch.

The disruption, now stretching close to a month, has hit Ward No. 7 under the Dabhaura Nagar Parishad area. With temperatures climbing steadily, the situation on the ground appears to be worsening, particularly for children and the elderly.

Power Cut Sparks Crisis

According to villagers, the issue began when unknown persons allegedly cut an الكهرباء cable supplying the area about a month ago. Since then, electricity has not been restored, bringing routine life to a halt.

The absence of power has directly impacted water availability. Government-installed borewells in the village remain non-functional as electric pumps have stopped working, leaving residents without a reliable source of drinking water.

Trek for Unsafe Water

With no immediate alternative in place, families have been forced to walk nearly two kilometres into a nearby forest area. There, they dig shallow pits in a dried-up riverbed to collect murky water.

“It’s not fit for drinking, but we have no choice,” a local resident said, pointing to the visibly contaminated water collected in containers. The situation, villagers say, has persisted despite repeated complaints.

Complaints Go Unanswered

Residents claim they have approached the electricity department multiple times and even registered complaints through the CM Helpline 181. However, no corrective action has been taken so far.

Ward councillor Asma Devi said the issue has been flagged to concerned officials on several occasions. “We tried contacting the junior engineer, but calls often go unanswered,” she alleged.

Tanker Supply Irregular

Adding to the problem is the irregular supply of water tankers. Locals said that while tankers were expected to provide temporary relief, their visits have been inconsistent, leaving large sections of the village without access to potable water.

“There are days when no tanker comes at all,” said another resident. “We are left to manage on our own.”

Health Concerns Rise

With villagers consuming untreated and potentially contaminated water, concerns over waterborne diseases are growing. Locals report that children and elderly residents are particularly vulnerable in the current conditions.

Though no official health advisory has been issued yet, residents say minor illnesses have already begun to surface in the area.

Administration Steps In

After the issue surfaced in local media, district authorities took note. Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi, Collector of Rewa, has directed concerned departments to address the situation on priority.

“Instructions have been issued to restore electricity and ensure proper water supply at the earliest,” he said, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Awaiting Ground Action

While assurances have been made, villagers remain cautious. Many say they have heard similar promises before, but tangible action is yet to be seen.

For now, Dhurkuch continues to grapple with a daily struggle for basic necessities. As the heat intensifies, the urgency for restoring power and ensuring safe drinking water is only growing.