Chhattisgarh Writes a New Chapter of Development on its 25th Anniversary, Says CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Chhattisgarh has scripted a new saga of development in the 25 years since its formation, establishing new benchmarks of progress across various sectors, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Thursday. He was addressing the fourth day of the statehood festival, 'Rajyotsav,' in Nava Raipur as the chief guest.

The event was marked by a solemn ceremony where CM Sai honored 14 police personnel with gallantry awards for displaying exceptional courage in anti-Naxal operations. The recipients included the families of late Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Giripunje and late Veerendra Kumar Shori, along with other brave officers.

A Legacy of Vision and Development

In his keynote address, the Chief Minister paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his visionary role in the creation of Chhattisgarh. "After the formation of the separate state, Chhattisgarh was freed from the pangs of neglect. Atalji's foresight gave new momentum to the development of Chhattisgarh," Sai stated.

He highlighted that initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana connected villages with all-weather roads, which opened the doors to rural development.

CM Sai also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the Rajyotsav and performed the consecration of the new legislative assembly building in Nava Raipur on November 1. "During his visit, he gifted development projects worth over ₹14,000 crore to the state. For this, I express my gratitude to him on behalf of the three crore people of the state," he said.

Commitment to Transparent Governance

Outlining his government's agenda, Sai asserted that in the last 22 months, they have completed most of the major works under 'Modi's Guarantee.' "We are committed to clean, sensitive, and transparent governance in the state. It is with this objective that we have constituted the Su-Shasan and Abhisaran (Good Governance and Convergence) Department," the Chief Minister affirmed.

Echoing the sentiment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap, in his speech, recounted the plight of remote forest areas of Bastar and Sarguja before statehood. "These regions, lacking health, education, and infrastructure facilities, were in a pathetic state while suffering from the pain of Naxal violence. Understanding this pain, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee created a separate state, after which Chhattisgarh has been continuously progressing on the path of development," Kashyap said.

A Gathering of Dignitaries

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including MLA Indra Kumar Sahu, Chhattisgarh State Civil Supply Corporation Chairman Sanjay Shrivastava, Sahitya Akademi Culture Council Chairman Shashank Sharma, Chhattisgarh Film Development Corporation Chairman Mona Sen, Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Pingua, Director General of Police Arun Dev Gautam, and Culture Department Director Vivek Acharya.

As Chhattisgarh celebrates its silver jubilee, the Rajyotsav serves as a bridge between the state's historical past and its promising future, underscoring a continued commitment to growth and security.