Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited Gram Panchayat Badeknera in Kondagaon district on 1 June 2026 during the ongoing Sushasan Tihar 2026 programme, where he distributed incentive cheques to academically outstanding children of tendu leaf collector families and interacted with beneficiaries of multiple forest department welfare schemes.

Context

Posting on X, CM Sai described the event in Hindi: 'तेंदूपत्ते से समृद्धि, तीखुर से आत्मनिर्भरता - यही बदलते बस्तर की पहचान है' ('Prosperity through tendu leaves, self-reliance through tikhur — this is the identity of a changing Bastar'). The remark framed the day's activities as evidence of a broader transformation underway in the Bastar region, which has historically lagged on development indicators despite its rich forest resources.

The event in Badeknera brought together tendu leaf collectors, women self-help groups, farmers, and other beneficiaries. The chief minister said the forest department disbursed benefits under several public welfare schemes at the gathering, though specific amounts were not disclosed in the post.

Policy Backdrop

Chhattisgarh has operated dedicated procurement and bonus programmes for tendu leaf collectors since the state was carved out in 2000, treating the minor forest produce as a critical income source for Scheduled Tribe households across Bastar. Nationally, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras were established from 2018 onwards to add value to minor forest produce in tribal districts, including those in the Bastar division.

Tikhur — an arrowroot-like starch extracted from a forest tuber — has emerged as a focus product for women-led processing units in the region. CM Sai noted that women's self-help groups engaged in tikhur processing are 'presenting a new example of economic self-reliance', describing it as a model of development and aatmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) for Bastar.

Stakeholders and Impact

The direct beneficiaries at Badeknera were children of tendu leaf collector families recognised for academic excellence — a scheme designed to link forest-produce livelihoods with educational aspiration. By tying incentive payments to scholastic performance, the state government aims to reduce dropout rates in communities whose income cycles are seasonal and forest-dependent.

Women self-help groups involved in tikhur processing represent a second tier of beneficiaries, gaining income outside the tendu leaf season. The forest department schemes disbursed at the event extended benefits to farmers and other rural households in Kondagaon as well.

CM Sai also participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) plantation drive at the venue, a national campaign launched in June 2024 to promote environmental conservation. The plantation component added a green-cover dimension to what was primarily a livelihood-focused event.

What's Next

Sushasan Tihar 2026 is a state-wide governance outreach programme under which district-level events are scheduled across Chhattisgarh. Further visits to Bastar-division districts are expected as the programme continues, with a focus on forest-produce value chains and women-led enterprises. Observers will watch for any formal announcements on tikhur processing infrastructure or expanded procurement guarantees for minor forest produce collectors in the region.