Kumar Bahukhandi
Tricolour Flies High: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai salutes the National Flag after its unfurling during the State-level 80th Independence Day celebration in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as senior police officers and officials join the ceremony-Photo Credit:channel25india.com via CMO
On 80th Independence Day, Chief Minister pays tribute to freedom fighters and security personnel, hails transformation of Bastar and outlines new initiatives for youth, women, farmers and infrastructure
‘This is the golden time for rebuilding Bastar’; government announces fresh push on education, employment, AI, healthcare and connectivity
CM says development and security must reach the last person as Chhattisgarh moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047
Raipur: “Pyare Pradeshvasiyon, Jai Johar…”With this traditional Chhattisgarhi greeting, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai began his address to the people of the State on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026, paying homage to freedom fighters and presenting a broad roadmap for Chhattisgarh’s development.
Sai said Independence Day was an occasion not only to remember those who sacrificed everything for the country’s freedom but also to draw inspiration from India’s journey of unity and integrity and strengthen the resolve to build a developed India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He paid tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh and Veer Gundadhur, along with several other heroes associated with Chhattisgarh’s resistance and freedom struggles.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai addresses the gathering during the State-level 80th Independence Day celebrations in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Opening his address with “Pyare Pradeshvasiyon, Jai Johar,” Sai paid tribute to freedom fighters and outlined his vision for a developed and prosperous Chhattisgar-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CMO.
Bastar’s Transformation Takes Centre Stage
One of the strongest themes of Sai’s Independence Day address was the transformation underway in Bastar.
The Chief Minister said the resolve for a Naxal-free India had been achieved and paid tribute to security personnel for their courage and sacrifice in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism. He pointed to Tiranga Yatras being taken out across Bastar as an expression of the changed atmosphere in areas once affected by Maoist violence.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai acknowledges the ceremonial salute during the State-level 80th Independence Day celebrations in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as the occasion unfolds with patriotic fervour-Photo Credit :channel24india.com via CMO
“Now is the golden time for the reconstruction of Bastar,” Sai said, highlighting the Niyad Nella Nar 2.0 and Bastar Munne initiatives. According to him, saturation of 31 schemes and 14 community facilities is intended to benefit more than 39 lakh people across the Bastar division.
He said schools that had remained closed because of Naxal violence had been reopened, while 36 new schools had also been sanctioned. Education Cities are being developed in remote areas including Orchha and Jagargunda.
The government, he said, has prepared a ₹4,824-crore livelihood upgradation plan aimed at raising the incomes of around 10 lakh families in Bastar. Security camps, meanwhile, are increasingly being developed as centres for public services, skills and entrepreneurship.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai addresses the gathering during the State-level 80th Independence Day celebrations in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Opening his address with “Pyare Pradeshvasiyon, Jai Johar,” Sai paid tribute to freedom fighters and outlined his vision for a developed and prosperous Chhattisgarh-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CMO
Farmers, Women and Rural Families
Sai described farmers’ prosperity and dignity as a top priority of his government. He highlighted procurement of paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal, up to 21 quintals per acre, and said farmers shifting from paddy to pulses, oilseeds, maize, kodo, kutki and ragi would receive input assistance of ₹15,000 under the Krishak Unnati Yojana.
On housing, the Chief Minister said that after approving 18 lakh houses in the first Cabinet meeting, the State had so far sanctioned 24.50 lakh homes, with an average of around 1,600 houses being constructed every day.
Women remained another major focus of his address. Sai said around 70 lakh beneficiaries had received ₹19,444 crore under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. He also said 13.85 lakh women in Chhattisgarh had become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Independence Day Parade: A contingent of Chhattisgarh Police performs a ceremonial drill during the 80th Independence Day celebrations in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as spectators watch from the stands-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CMO
Youth at the Heart of Developed Chhattisgarh
Sai placed considerable emphasis on young people, saying new opportunities were being created from employment to innovation.
He said the State had undertaken reforms aimed at ensuring transparency in competitive examinations and had established the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board for recruitment to Class III and Class IV posts. A stringent law had also been passed to prevent cheating and unfair practices in examinations.
The Chief Minister said 7,000 young people had been recruited into the police, while recruitment for 3,946 teacher and assistant teacher posts had begun. Power companies were undertaking recruitment for 1,235 posts.
A new CG Assistance for Competitive Exam Scheme will support students preparing for NEET, JEE, CLAT, Railway, SSC, banking, PSC and UPSC examinations. The State has also decided to provide 10 per cent reservation in direct recruitment for eligible Agniveers completing four years of military service, covering posts such as police constable, forest guard and jail guard.
Sai also announced that a ₹100-crore startup fund had been created under the Chhattisgarh Startup Promotion Policy to encourage innovation among young people.
₹500-Crore AI Mission
Technology featured prominently in the development agenda.
Sai said the government had approved a ₹500-crore Chhattisgarh State AI Mission, under which 100 AI data laboratories, five Centres of Excellence and more than 50 AI-based services would be developed.
The programme envisages AI training for six lakh students and 1.5 lakh government employees.
Five medical colleges — at Geedam, Kunkuri, Janjgir-Champa, Manendragarh and Kawardha — are also being started from the current academic session, while six government engineering and polytechnic colleges are to be developed as CGIT institutions.
Investment Proposals Cross ₹8.23 Lakh Crore
On industrial growth, Sai said investor-connect programmes held in India and abroad had generated investment proposals worth ₹8.23 lakh crore, potentially creating around 1.74 lakh employment opportunities.
He referred to emerging industrial projects in textiles, electronics, furniture and manufacturing and said Chhattisgarh was moving towards establishing what he described as the country’s first AI SEZ, along with an AI data centre.
The State is also developing the Raipur-Nava Raipur-Durg-Bhilai State Capital Region, while major road and railway projects are expected to improve connectivity with national markets.
‘Meri Beti–Mera Abhiman’ Announced
Marking Independence Day with a new initiative, Sai announced the ‘Meri Beti–Mera Abhiman’ campaign, under which toilets for girls will be constructed in 6,671 government schools.
He also said cremation grounds and waiting facilities would be developed in 6,524 villages under another rural development initiative.
The Chief Minister highlighted improvements in digital governance, saying more than 700 government services were available online through the Seva Setu portal and over 80,000 complaints had been resolved through CM Helpline 1076.
Culture, Tourism and Chhattisgarh’s Identity
Sai said the government would accelerate tourism development in Bastar and Surguja through the Mukhyamantri Paryatan Mission, while Chitrakote would be developed as a global tourism destination with a tent city. Sirpur, too, would be developed in accordance with world heritage standards.
He also announced an initiative to preserve the legacy of late Padma Vibhushan folk artiste Dr Teejan Bai through the Dr Teejan Bai Lokkala Alankaran, while the proposed Chitrotpala Film City is intended to support the development of Chhattisgarhi cinema.
Concluding his address, Sai invoked the Rig Vedic message “Sangachhadhwam, Sam Vadadhwam”, calling upon the people to move forward together, united in thought and purpose, towards the shared goal of a developed India and developed Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presents awards to police personnel in recognition of their distinguished service during the State-level 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Police Parade Ground in Raipur on Saturday, August 15, 202-Video Credit:channel24india.com via CG/PR .
