The
new state of Chattisgarh is carved out from 16 districts
of Madhya Pradesh, taking a neat slice off the eastern
half of the state. It encompasses an area of 1,46,
361 sq km. It is one of the most backward regions
of the country with a predominantly tribal population
It is bordered by Bihar, and the new state of Jharkhand
to its east, Orissa to the southeast, Andhra Pradesh
to its south and Maharashtra in the west.
However, Chhattisgarh is mineral rich and is also
considered the rice bowl of Madhya Pradesh, supplying
food grain to over 6000 rice mills in the state. More
than 70% of India's tendu leaf production used for
making bidis happens in Chhattisgarh. But locals had
for long nursed the grievance that the revenues it
generates forth for the state exchequer were not reinvested.
The
region remained underdeveloped and poverty-stricken.
Leaders who were vocal in their demand for a separate
state, stressed that the region served as a colony
to the rest of Madhya Pradesh.
