Bastar region has attracted the attention of the planners since the beginning of the planning era. The two Special Multipurpose Tribal Blocks set up in the region for intensive development of the tribal areas in 1956-57 were renamed as Tribal Development Blocks during the Third Five Year Plan.
This strategy involved an integrated intensive program covering all aspects of the tribal life. The cont laid emphasis on soil conservation, afforest lion social welfare, education, health, co-operation communication. The programme is implemented the District Collector under the direction of Tribal Welfare Department of the State Government.
The opening of the Bailadila iron-ore mini and lying of railway and road network have ushered the era of opening the economy to modern development. This has led to some changes in the consumption pattern of the tribal people. They have show liking for health and education services. Effortsa also being made to improve agriculture and forest which are two important economic activities of tribal’s.
The Tribal Development Block could deliver the desired goods because these blocks have been found to be too small an area for purposeful planning by the Shilu Committee. Also the development programme has been fragmented and some of the schemes introduced in these areas are actually meant for advanced communities.
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The employment -generating schemes have not been implemented properly. Also the local people’s participation has been lacking in formulating and implementing the development plans. A large part of the region still remains unsurveyed to assess the economic potent; of the region. The land records are not complete and update.
The land laws need some provision for the tribal system of communal ownership so that the alienation of the tribal is minimal. Care should be taken to avoid exploitation of the innocent tribal’s by the non-tribal. There should be efforts to preserve tribal culture and the development schemes are so designed that tribal’s doing not become suspicious and non-co-operative.