Raipur, (VW) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday felicitated 22 meritorious students from registered construction worker families who secured ranks in the top 10 merit list of Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations. Addressing the Meritorious Student Felicitation Ceremony organised by the state labour department at the New Circuit House on World Environment Day, the Chief Minister transferred financial assistance worth ₹7.79 crore directly into the bank accounts of 28,754 registered construction labourers and their families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The felicitated students, comprising nine from Class 10 and 13 from Class 12, represent various districts including Raipur, Mahasamund, Durg, Gariaband, Sakti, Balodabazar, Raigarh, and Kanker. Under the Mukhyamantri Noni-Babu Medhavi Shiksha Sahayata Yojana, each student received an incentive of ₹1 lakh and an additional ₹1 lakh grant to purchase a two-wheeler to facilitate higher education and mobility.

Congratulating the students, Chief Minister Sai said their success is an inspiring testament to the hard work and determination of labour families. He emphasized that the state government’s vision is to ensure that children of workers transcend traditional occupations to become doctors, engineers, administrators, and scientists. He noted that the state is implementing nearly 70 welfare schemes for workers and urged families to maximize their benefits.

Sharing his experience as a former Union Minister of State for Labour, the Chief Minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sensitivity toward labour welfare. He recalled key central initiatives introduced between 2014 and 2019, including the Universal Provident Fund (PF) Number system, minimum pension enhancements, and worker healthcare protection.

The cumulative DBT payout of ₹7.79 crore covered multiple welfare initiatives, including the Free Uniform and Book Assistance, Mini Mata Mahtari Jatan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Noni Sashaktikaran Sahayata Yojana, Mukhyamantri Nonilal Chhatrvritti Yojana, Mukhyamantri Shramik Auzar Sahayata Yojana, Mukhyamantri Cycle Sahayata Yojana, and Pension Sahayata Yojana.

Presiding over the event, Labour Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan stated that the state government is continuously expanding support services like free coaching and health check-ups for labourers’ children. Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Dr Ram Pratap Singh also lauded the Mukhyamantri Noni-Babu Medhavi Shiksha Sahayata Yojana as a milestone for educational advancement.

Earlier in the day, marking World Environment Day, Chief Minister Sai planted a sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. He appealed to citizens to transform the initiative into a mass environment conservation movement by planting trees in honour of their mothers.

Labour Department Secretary and Labour Commissioner Himshikhar Gupta, Raipur Collector Gaurav Singh, along with departmental officials and public representatives, were present on the occasion.