Raipur, Aug 25: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai transferred over ₹631.38 crore directly into the bank accounts of 67.28 lakh women as the latest instalment of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana on Tuesday, ahead of Raksha Bandhan.

Speaking at the Mahtari Vandan Samman Samaroh at Lal Raghuveer Singh Stadium in Balod district’s Daundilohara, Chief Minister Sai said the state government released the amount early so that women could celebrate the upcoming festival with greater joy.

Out of the total beneficiaries across the state, 2.45 lakh women belong to Balod district alone. The scheme, aimed at fostering financial independence, provides regular financial support to help women meet household needs, healthcare, education, and small-scale self-employment goals.

The Chief Minister highlighted that nearly ₹20,000 crore has been disbursed under the initiative over the past two and a half years as part of the state’s commitments under Modi Ki Guarantee. He added that over 13.85 lakh women in the state have become Lakhpati Didis, exceeding initial targets through self-help group enterprises and tech-driven initiatives like Drone Didi.

Chief Minister Sai also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth nearly ₹102 crore in Balod district. The key projects announced include an auditorium in Daundilohara, lift irrigation facilities at Kharkhara Reservoir, canal remodelling at Dhanagaon Reservoir, and multiple rural road construction projects, including the ₹26-crore Arjunda–Odarsakri road.

Emphasising the state’s broader development goals, the Chief Minister noted that counter-Naxal operations and targeted welfare initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are ushering in a new era of peace and infrastructure growth in Bastar.

Kanker MP Bhojraj Nag and former MP Saroj Pandey were among the prominent leaders present at the event.