Kumar Bahukhandi
IN Short
Chief Minister Shri Sai launches e-Pragati portal
5 departments and 5 districts receive Chief Minister’s Excellence Award for good governance and innovations
Raipur: Good governance should not be confined to paper, but should be reflected in positive changes in people’s lives and in the functioning of government officials. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said this while addressing the Chief Minister’s Excellence Award 2025-26 program held in Nava Raipur, the capital city, on Saturday January 10, 2026 .
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honored 5 departments and 5 districts with the Chief Minister’s Excellence Award for good governance and innovations at the Chief Minister’s Excellence Award 2025-26 ceremony organised by the Department of Good Governance and Convergence.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Sai also launched the e-Pragati portal, through which all construction projects costing more than Rs. 25 crore in all departments of Chhattisgarh will now be monitored. Through this portal, all aspects, from project approval to budget, wages, payments, MIS, and structural details, will be monitored by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Chief Minister Sai said that the objective of good governance is to ensure that the last person in society does not have to wander around for basic services. Through the Atal Digital Service Centers started in the panchayats, villagers are getting facilities like Aadhaar, pension, banking, and bill payment at a single location.
Our government has taken many initiatives to ensure effective access to good governance for citizens through technological innovations. In this sequence, the e-Pragati portal has been launched today, which aims to make the implementation of large-scale projects and schemes in the state more effective, transparent, and time-bound.
This portal will provide real-time data on the progress of the schemes. It will establish better coordination between all departments, district administrations, and the Chief Minister’s Office. This will further strengthen e-governance in the state and enable citizens to receive the benefits of the schemes on time and easily.
He instructed all collectors, secretaries, and concerned officers to regularly update the progress of the schemes. Chief Minister Sai said that we have gained a deep understanding of good governance through the philosophy of integral humanism of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the concept of Antyodaya (upliftment of the poorest of the poor) of the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the leadership of the successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Sai added.
Chief Minister Sai said that we have created the country’s first Department of Good Governance and Convergence, which is the center for coordination and effective implementation of all schemes. In the last two years, we have implemented more than 400 policy reforms, abolished old and obsolete rules and regulations, and amended many others.
These reforms have simplified the lives of the people of the state and made the administration more efficient. Today, the Chief Minister’s Excellence Award has been given to recognise the innovative efforts of 5 districts and 5 departments.
This will encourage officers who perform well. From the coming year, this award will be given in 8 different areas, including e-governance, service delivery, and rural and urban development. This clearly shows that a strong culture of innovation and good governance is developing in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Sai said that to promote innovation in governance, the “Pahal” and “Prerna” schemes are being launched. “Pahal” will support new ideas, and “Prerna” will expand successful schemes. A Chief Minister’s Helpline will also be launched soon, which will strengthen grievance redressal and public participation.
To improve the availability of services, processes are being simplified, and the Public Service Guarantee Act is being developed as LSG-2.0.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that in this changing era, technology has become a part of our lifestyle. Therefore, recognising the power of digital resources, we have made technology a major weapon of good governance. Making all citizen services available online is our top priority. E-office has ensured both speed and transparency in government work. Now files move forward with a single click, not weeks or months.
This is also ensuring accountability of employees and officers and reducing the scope for corruption. E-office started in the Ministry and has now been implemented in the offices of the heads of departments. In the coming months, it will be implemented in all divisions and districts as well. Chief Minister Sai said that the initiative by Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel to honor officers and employees who have performed exceptionally well in e-office work is commendable and is bringing about a positive change in the work culture. Biometric attendance is also being implemented in a phased manner in all offices.
Chief Minister Sai said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become one of the world’s largest economies, and good governance is the biggest factor behind this achievement. India’s leading position in digital payments globally is also a result of good governance.
He stated that the permit system for mineral transportation has been made online, curbing corruption and securing resources for development projects. Similarly, government procurement has been linked to the GeM portal, increasing transparency and competition. He instructed officials to ensure timeliness and transparency in procurement processes, CM added.
Chief Minister Sai said that 10 revolutionary initiatives undertaken in the registration department now allow citizens to register properties from the comfort of their homes. Under the new industrial policy, investment proposals worth over ₹7.83 lakh crore were received last year. Investors are receiving quick approvals and clearances through the Single Window System 2.0.
Chief Minister Sai said that through the Good Governance Festival, 41 lakh applications were resolved by reaching out to villages across the state. This is a strong example of public participation. He said that letters and applications from MPs and MLAs should be addressed promptly. Communication, coordination, and feedback are essential for good governance.
Chief Minister Sai also said that along with strengthening law and order, effective implementation of schemes in Naxal-affected areas is crucial. Proper communication of government decisions and achievements is equally important.
He said that under the Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision, the targets for 2030 have been reviewed, and a clear roadmap has been prepared to make the state prosperous and developed, CM affirmed.
Addressing the program, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel congratulated all the teams participating in the awards process.
District Category Winning Innovation
Dantewada district’s “Blockchain-based Land Records Digitisation” initiative emerged as a prime example. Through this innovation, manual and paper-based processes were eliminated, and a blockchain-based tamper-proof system was implemented, reducing the time to obtain land records from weeks to just a few minutes.
This initiative completely eliminated document fraud and brought unprecedented speed to service delivery, setting a new standard for revenue administration in tribal and remote areas. The “Nirman Jashpur” initiative in Jashpur district demonstrated how integrated digital monitoring can effectively streamline the implementation of infrastructure projects. Covering over 7,300 projects across 16 departments and 444 Gram Panchayats (village councils), this system enabled real-time monitoring, geo-tagged verification, and GIS-based planning, leading to improved quality of work and a significant reduction in delays.
The Augmented Take-Home Ration (A-THR) innovation implemented in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki presented an effective solution to the challenge of severe malnutrition. Developed in collaboration with national and international institutions, this nutrient-dense diet resulted in a 77.5 percent improvement rate among severely malnourished children.
This initiative exemplifies how evidence-based nutritional interventions can bring about positive change on a large scale.
The “Elephant Tracking and Alert App” in Gariaband district powerfully showcased the role of technology in mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Through AI-based tracking and real-time alerts, human casualties were reduced to near zero, while crop damage and compensation burdens also saw a significant decrease. This initiative, which has been adopted outside the state as well, has become an effective model for conflict-sensitive governance.
The “Intify Intelligence Tool” in Narayanpur district demonstrates the utility of data integration in the field of internal security. This real-time, geo-spatial, and predictive platform enabled the conduct of over 100 planned operations, improved coordination among various agencies, and strengthened situational awareness in areas affected by left-wing extremism.
Departmental Category Winning Innovations
Similarly, in the departmental category, the Education Department’s “Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK)” emerged as a strong pillar of data-driven education governance.
This AI-enabled platform monitors over 56,000 schools, 2.83 lakh teachers, and 57.5 lakh students, enabling early identification of dropouts, better resource utilization, and evidence-based decision-making.
The Department of Commerce and Industry’s “One Click Single Window System” has made remarkable strides in improving the ease of doing business. By integrating 136 services across 16 departments, this system has streamlined approval, incentive, grievance redressal, and inspection processes, reducing delays and increasing transparency, thereby boosting investor confidence.
The Commercial Taxes (Excise) Department’s comprehensive e-governance reform initiative has strengthened revenue collection and compliance mechanisms. Through end-to-end digitisation, a track and trace system, and real-time dashboards, the department generated revenue of ₹5,425 crore and established new standards of transparency and regulatory oversight.
The Department of Forests and Climate Change’s “FDS 2.0 – e-Kuber Digital Payment System” has eliminated manual check-based processes and implemented a completely cashless, RBI-integrated payment system.
This system facilitated over 18 lakh transactions totaling more than ₹1,776 crore, ensuring timely wage payments, livelihood security, and transparent fund flow even in remote and Naxal-affected forest areas.
The QR code-based information self-disclosure system implemented under MGNREGA by the Department of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development has given new strength to citizen-centric governance. By providing villagers with real-time project information through QR codes, this initiative has reduced dependence on intermediaries and strengthened transparency in more than 11,000 Gram Panchayats.
The welcome address at the program was delivered by Rahul Bhagat, Secretary of the Department of Good Governance and Convergence, and the vote of thanks was given by Joint Secretary Mayank Agarwal.
Present on the occasion were DGP Arun Dev Gautam, Additional Chief Secretary Richa Sharma, ACS Home Manoj Pingua, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Singh, Principal Secretary Niharika Barik, Director of the Department of Good Governance and Convergence Rajat Bansal, and other senior officials.
Through all these innovations, it is clear that governance in Chhattisgarh is not limited to merely implementing schemes, but a new administrative culture is developing that focuses on results, impact, and citizen trust.
These districts and departments, honored under the Chief Minister’s Excellence Award 2025-26, are setting new standards of good governance, transparency, technological innovation, and public welfare. These achievements not only reflect the capabilities of the state’s administrative machinery but also reinforce the government’s firm commitment and clear vision for a developed Chhattisgarh.
