Raipur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in the state capital Raipur on Friday, beginning his two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended a warm welcome to the Union Minister at Swami Vivekananda Airport, presenting him with a bouquet.

The Union Home Minister was received by a host of dignitaries, including Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, and Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary. Top bureaucratic and police officials were also in attendance, including Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Pingua, and Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Dev Gautam.

Shah is scheduled to proceed to Jagdalpur, the headquarters of the Bastar division, on Saturday, October 4, accompanied by Chief Minister Sai and other state officials to attend a series of programmes. The visit is strategically significant, combining cultural outreach with a focus on the Naxal-affected region.

In Jagdalpur, the Union Home Minister will transfer a total of ₹606.94 crore to the bank accounts of women beneficiaries of the Chhattisgarh government’s Mahtari Vandan Yojana. The transfer will take place during the Bastar Dussehra and Muria Darbar celebrations, marking the 20th instalment of the scheme.

This release will benefit 64.94 lakh eligible women across the state. The Mahtari Vandan Yojana provides a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to all married women above the age of 21, aiming to make them economically empowered and self-reliant.

Following the transfer of the 20th instalment, the cumulative financial figure under the scheme will exceed ₹12,983.13 crore. This underscores the Chhattisgarh government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Maa Danteshwari Temple and a Swadeshi Mela (Indigenous Fair) in Jagdalpur.