Union Home Minister Addresses State Foundation Day Celebrations; 1,122 Women and Girls Receive State Awards, While ₹632.63 Crore Transferred Under Mahtari Vandan Yojana
Published on: November 04, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Nava Raipur, India
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has said that Chhattisgarh is moving beyond the fear and violence of Naxalism towards a new era of peace, development and prosperity. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the efforts of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, new avenues of development are opening up across the state.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav 2026 and the State Decoration Awards ceremony at Nava Raipur, Shah said that Chhattisgarh, once described as a state with rich natural resources but poor people, would see both its land and its people prosper over the next ten years. The programme was presided over by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
On the occasion, Shah presented State Decoration Awards to distinguished individuals and institutions for their contributions in various fields. He also released the 33rd instalment of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Created Chhattisgarh, Modi Gave It a New Direction
Congratulating people on the 26th anniversary of Chhattisgarh’s formation, Shah paid tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whose leadership the state was created in 2000.
He said the creation of Chhattisgarh was aimed at providing better development opportunities to its people and giving recognition to regional aspirations. While Atal Bihari Vajpayee created the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worked to transform it. Shah also referred to the development initiatives undertaken during the tenure of former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh.
He described the occasion as a day of pride, achievement and renewed commitment: pride in the legacy of Vajpayee, achievement in the fight against Naxalism and a commitment to building a developed Chhattisgarh.
Security Forces and Bastar Residents Praised for Fight Against Naxalism
Referring to the long period of violence in tribal regions, Shah said that areas known for mahua, tendu leaves and folk traditions had suffered from violence and landmines. Children who should have had books and pens in their hands were pushed towards violence, while schools and roads were also affected.
He praised the courage, dedication and sacrifices of central security forces and Chhattisgarh Police personnel. He also acknowledged the cooperation of local communities in creating an atmosphere of peace and development in Naxal-affected areas.
Shah said the government’s policy provides an opportunity for those who abandon violence and surrender to return to the mainstream. At the same time, security forces take action against those who endanger the lives of innocent citizens by violating the law.
He also referred to rehabilitation efforts for people disabled by Naxal violence, including the provision of artificial limbs. He said the rights of innocent civilians, tribal communities, children and security personnel affected by Naxal violence must also be considered in discussions about human rights.
Tourism and Employment Opportunities Expected to Expand
Shah said Chhattisgarh has immense potential because of its natural beauty, forest wealth, mineral resources and cultural heritage. Naxalism had prevented several areas, including Bastar, from fully developing their tourism potential.
He expressed confidence that improved security and peace would create new opportunities in tourism, industry, trade and employment. He specifically mentioned Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh Falls, Kanger Valley National Park, Maa Bamleshwari Temple, Maa Danteshwari Temple and Bastar Dussehra as important attractions.
He said tourism growth would create employment for local youth, provide markets for handicrafts and traditional products, and strengthen the economies of rural and tribal communities.
Chhattisgarh’s Folk Culture and Tribal Traditions Highlighted
Praising the state’s cultural heritage, Shah referred to the teachings of Guru Ghasidas on social equality and Guru Nanak Dev on service and truth.
He said the state government was working to preserve and promote folk art, tribal traditions and cultural heritage. Events such as Bastar Pandum and Bastar Olympics were providing greater recognition to tribal culture, sporting talent and traditional lifestyles.
He also mentioned Panthi, Pandavani, Raut Nacha, Karma and Saila dances, along with Bastar’s traditional attire, cuisine, handicrafts and cultural practices.
Nava Raipur to Be Developed as a ‘Peepal City’
Shah referred to the inauguration of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Park in Nava Raipur, where around 2,500 peepal saplings have been planted.
He said the government had set a target of planting five lakh peepal trees to develop Nava Raipur as a ‘Peepal City’. Finance, Housing and Environment Minister O.P. Choudhary has been assigned special responsibility for the initiative.
Shah said the project would support the development of Nava Raipur as a green and environmentally friendly city.
More Than 70% of ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ Commitments Completed
Shah appreciated the work of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma. He said the state government had completed more than 70 per cent of the commitments under ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ in a relatively short period.
He referred to initiatives in housing, farmers’ welfare, the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, minor forest produce, animal husbandry and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Highlighting Chhattisgarh’s development over 26 years, Shah said the state’s annual budget had increased nearly 30 times, per capita income 17 times and Gross State Domestic Product around 25 times since its formation.
He also cited growth in educational infrastructure, stating that the number of ITIs had doubled, engineering colleges had tripled, and polytechnic institutions had increased sixfold. The number of colleges and universities had also grown nearly sixfold. He said the state’s literacy rate had risen from around 55 per cent to 80 per cent.
₹632.63 Crore Released Under 33rd Instalment of Mahtari Vandan Yojana
During the ceremony, Shah released the 33rd instalment of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
A total of ₹632 crore, 63 lakh and 67 thousand 750 was transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer to the bank accounts of 67,40,410 eligible women across Chhattisgarh.
Of these beneficiaries, 67,33,502 had completed e-KYC. Another 6,908 women from Niyad Nellanar camp areas also received the 33rd instalment.
Under the scheme, eligible married women receive financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month. The programme aims to strengthen women’s financial position and increase their participation in meeting family needs.
State Decoration Awards Presented to Achievers
Shah presented State Decoration Awards to distinguished individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions in areas including tribal welfare, social harmony, women’s empowerment, literature, art, culture, journalism, sports, agriculture, cooperation, medicine, labour, law, rural tourism and public service.
Congratulating the award recipients, he said that Chhattisgarh’s talent and cultural heritage were important elements of the state’s identity.
Chief Minister Says Naxalism’s Decline Will Accelerate Development
In his address, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the removal of Naxalism-related obstacles would give fresh momentum to the development of a prosperous and developed Chhattisgarh.
He recalled the contribution of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the formation of the state and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his message to nearly three crore people of Chhattisgarh on the occasion of State Foundation Day.
Sai said that the Centre and state government’s coordinated efforts, along with the courage of security personnel and cooperation from Bastar residents, had brought significant progress in the campaign against Naxalism.
He added that improved peace and security would accelerate development in education, healthcare, roads, electricity, communication, tourism and employment, particularly in Bastar.
Government Working Towards Developed Chhattisgarh 2047 Vision
The Chief Minister said that the state government was implementing commitments made during the 2023 Assembly elections, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, farmers’ welfare measures, Mahtari Vandan Yojana, increased remuneration for tendu leaf collectors and Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.
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He said nearly 68 lakh women were receiving ₹1,000 every month under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, while more than ₹21,000 crore had been transferred to their accounts so far. More than 55,000 devotees had also visited Ayodhya under the Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.
Sai said the state had prepared a vision document for building a developed Chhattisgarh in line with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. He urged citizens to actively participate in the state’s development journey.
Large Public Gathering Attends Ceremony Despite Rain
Shah appreciated the enthusiasm of citizens who attended the Rajyotsav concluding ceremony despite rainfall. He said their participation reflected their affection for Chhattisgarh, its culture and its Foundation Day.
Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, state ministers, MPs, MLAs, public representatives, senior officials, award recipients and a large number of citizens attended the ceremony.
