Bright Future for Gadchiroli: Focus on On-Field Development Work Urged – Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal

Gadchiroli, Jan 2026 : Gadchiroli district stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. With the availability of high-quality iron ore, large-scale industries are set to emerge soon, promising a bright future for the district. To ensure that local communities directly benefit, administrative machinery must focus on infrastructure development as well as human resource skill enhancement, said Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.

The Chief Secretary spoke at a meeting held at the District Collectorate, reviewing Gadchiroli’s overall development. Present were Principal Secretary and Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, District Police Superintendent Nilotpal, Chief Conservator of Forests Ramesh Kumar, and CEO of Zilla Parishad Suhas Gade, among others.

Emphasizing the importance of skill development among the youth, Chief Secretary Agrawal said industrial training institutions must be upgraded and linked to upcoming industries, while the number of colleges should be increased to broaden higher education access, enabling young people to play key roles in new industries. Government programs must reach every household and the last citizen, he added. To avoid administrative delays, officers are now expected to work directly on the ground (“on-field”) to accelerate development projects. The reasons earlier cited for not reaching remote areas—such as Naxalite threats—no longer apply, and focus must now be on active fieldwork.

Expressing concern over infrastructure approvals, he criticized the forest department for unnecessary permission demands, highlighting that offline paperwork should not delay projects when online systems exist. Tree-cutting work should prioritize paperless procedures, ensuring projects like national highways, medical college constructions, and mobile tower installations are not stalled. Reducing bureaucratic delays will prevent cost escalations or relocation of projects to other states. Departments were also advised to establish direct communication channels with beneficiaries of individual welfare schemes.

Chief Secretary Agrawal inquired about the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, noting which villages had been connected by roads and which remained pending. He emphasized that central funding is available, but delays in proposal submission are hindering its release, directing that pending proposals be immediately submitted to the center.

Regarding rural healthcare, he stressed that patients should be treated locally whenever possible, rather than being referred elsewhere. During implementation of the Har Ghar Nal scheme, the focus should be on providing actual water access, not just laying pipelines. He warned that delays in roads and transport infrastructure could create conditions favorable to Naxal support and assured personal follow-up to resolve technical challenges impeding development.

The meeting was attended by chief officers from various departments.