Raipur, Aug 15: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hoisted the Tricolour at the Police Parade Ground on the 80th Independence Day, promising dedicated welfare measures for farmers, tribal communities, and youth alongside major industrial expansion to build a ‘Viksit Chhattisgarh’.

Delivering his Independence Day address, Sai declared that Bastar is witnessing a new dawn of peace and infrastructure growth following decisive operations against Naxalism under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He highlighted the ‘Niyad Nellanar 2.0’ scheme and ‘Bastar Munne Abhiyan’, which deliver 31 key government services to over 39 lakh residents in the region. He noted that former Naxal strongholds now house active public service centres, with 36 new schools and two Education Cities being built in remote areas such as Orchha and Jagargunda.

Reaffirming support for the agrarian sector, the Chief Minister confirmed that paddy procurement continues at ₹3,100 per quintal at a rate of 21 quintals per acre. He announced an exchange grant of ₹15,000 per acre under the Krishak Unnati Yojana for farmers who shift from paddy to pulses, oilseeds, and millets. To expand irrigation coverage, the government has cleared ₹3,047 crore for the Sikasar-Kodar Canal Linking Project alongside a ₹2,000-crore outlay for barrages on the Indravati River.

Outlining key social sector initiatives, Sai announced the ‘Meri Beti-Mera Abhimaan’ campaign to construct dedicated toilets for girls in 6,671 government schools across the state. He also launched the ₹500-crore State AI Mission to set up 100 data labs, approved a 10 per cent reservation for Agniveers in state police and forest guard recruitments, and instituted the ‘Dr Teejan Bai Lok Kala Alankaran’ to preserve the cultural legacy of the late Padma Vibhushan awardee.

Expanding on industrial targets, the Chief Minister stated that state-level investor summits have generated investment proposals worth ₹8.23 lakh crore with the potential to create 1.74 lakh jobs. Key industrial projects include an AI Special Economic Zone, an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Rajnandgaon, a Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) facility in Mungeli, and 23 new industrial parks across Chhattisgarh.