Raipur, July 20: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has inaugurated the State-Level Shala Pravesh Utsav 2026–27 at Jamgaon (M) in Durg district, announcing four major education and sports infrastructure projects for the region.

Addressing the gathering at Swami Atmanand Government English Medium Utkrist Vidyalaya in Patan block, the Chief Minister emphasized that education goes beyond scoring marks to embrace moral values, scientific thinking, and nation-building.

The newly announced projects for Durg include a composite building for education department offices, a fully equipped auditorium in Durg city, a football ground with an athletics track, and separate 100-seat NEET/JEE preparation hostels for boys and girls.

Sai stated that administrative rationalisation has ensured every school in the state now has teachers, while education hubs are being developed in remote areas such as Jagargunda in Bastar to match urban facilities. He highlighted that Chhattisgarh currently operates 15 medical colleges, 24 Nalanda campuses, and a 200-seat hostel in Delhi for state students.

During the event, the Chief Minister welcomed new admissions with ceremonial tilak and sweets, distributing free textbooks, uniforms, bags, and bicycles to Class IX girl students. He also felicitated National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship toppers Kumari Payal Rajni, Naitik Aamte, and Kumari Shraddha Indoriya.

Sai inspected the school’s astronomy laboratory, planted saplings under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, and joined students for ‘Nyota Bhoj’.

School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav noted that the government is expanding computer education in a phased manner, constructing over 8,000 toilets for girls, and ensuring textbooks and uniforms reach students on the opening day of the session.

Durg Rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar, Saja MLA Ishwar Sahu, School Education Secretary Dr Kamalpreet Singh, and Durg Collector Abhijeet Singh were among the key officials present.