Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai all set to felicitate distinguished educators with the “Utkrisht Shikshak Samman” (Excellence in Teaching Award-Photo Credit -CG/PR
“Education is the foundation of nation-building” – CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday August3, 2025 addressed the ‘Gyan Dhara – Shiksha Samvad’ (Educational Dialogue) event, organised by a Hindi Daily and a Media Group associated with it in Raipur. Emphasising the government’s commitment to education, the Chief Minister said, “Our government considers education as the foundation of nation-building. Since the day I took charge of the Education Department, my top priority has been to deeply understand the challenges and implement concrete reforms.”
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai giving away a distinguished educators with the “Utkrisht Shikshak Samman” (Excellence in Teaching Award)- to a Teacher while Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma applauds -Photo Credit -CG/PR
He shared that the state conducted an in-depth review which revealed that, despite a student-teacher ratio better than the national average, there was an unequal distribution — with rural areas facing a shortage of teachers while urban schools had a surplus. To correct this imbalance, the state initiated a rationalisation process.
“As a result, no school in Chhattisgarh is without a teacher today. Villages like Irakbhatti, where schools were shut for years, have now reopened,” he added.
Acknowledging the continued demand for teachers, CM Sai announced that recruitment for 5,000 new teachers will soon begin.
National Education Policy: Local Languages, Modern Infrastructure
Highlighting the effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020, the CM said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NEP has been rolled out across the country , and our state has adopted it with urgency and commitment.”
He said that primary education is now being imparted in 18 local languages and dialects across Chhattisgarh, enhancing both cultural preservation and learning outcomes.
He further shared that under the PM-SHRI School Scheme, students are receiving hi-tech facilities, and ₹133 crore has been sanctioned for the maintenance of school buildings. Hostels are also being upgraded to provide better accommodation and services to students.
From Naxalism to Development: Bastar’s Transformation
Addressing the issue of left-wing extremism, the Chief Minister said, “Chhattisgarh is a state blessed with minerals, forests, fertile lands, and biodiversity, yet it has long suffered due to Naxalism.” He said that during a review meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, it was decided to combat Naxalism through a dual strategy—of both security and development. “We appealed to the Naxals to surrender and return to the mainstream, and the results have been encouraging — over 1,500 Naxals have surrendered so far,” CM Sai said .
Security forces have neutralised several active Naxals, and the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ rehabilitation scheme has been launched for their reintegration. “The permanent solution to Naxalism lies not just in force but in expanding access to education, roads, electricity, and drinking water,” he added.
He proudly noted that Dhudhmaras village in Bastar has been ranked among the top 20 global tourism villages, marking a milestone for Chhattisgarh. He further said that tourism has now been granted industry status, and the ambitious Bodhghat Project in Bastar aims to provide irrigation for 7 lakh hectares and generate 200 MW of electricity.
Massive Leap in Higher Education
Reflecting on 25 years of Chhattisgarh’s educational journey, the CM said, “There was a time when the state had only one medical college. Today, we have 15 functional medical colleges.”
He added that 19 private universities have been established, and 3 more are in the pipeline.
“India was once the Vishwaguru (global teacher) and is now moving back toward that stature. Students from abroad are coming to India for education. Our aim is to make Chhattisgarh a hub of higher education,” he emphasised.
Viksit Chhattisgarh by 2047: Education a Top Priority
CM Sai said the state government has prepared a comprehensive Vision Document for building a ‘Viksit Chhattisgarh’ (Developed Chhattisgarh) by 2047. “Education has been accorded top priority in this vision. Our goal is to align the quality of our schools and colleges with international standards, and make education a powerful contributor to the state’s GSDP,” he said.
Felicitating Exemplary Teachers
Towards the end of the program, CM Vishnu Deo Sai felicitated distinguished educators with the “Utkrisht Shikshak Samman” (Excellence in Teaching Award). The awardees included Ms. K. Sharda, B.R. Sahu, Bharat Kishore Yadav, Dr. Dhananjay Pandey and Baldau Singh Shyam.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and his Deputy Vijay Sharma felicitating distinguished educators with the “Utkrisht Shikshak Samman” (Excellence in Teaching Award)-Photo Credit CG/PR
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and Revenue and Sports Minister Shri Tankaram Verma also addressed the gathering.
The event witnessed the participation of MLAs Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu, and Guru Khushwant Saheb, along with senior educationists, university representatives, and a large number of students.
