Kumar Bahukhandi
Sarla Dubey, wife of late Colonel Ashok Kumar Dubey, ties a rakhi on Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s wrist during the Raksha Bandhan celebration at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur on Friday, August 28, 2026-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Women from different walks of life tie rakhi to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai; CM says their affection and blessings strengthen his resolve to serve Chhattisgarh
Key Highlights
- Women from social organisations, self-help groups, the media and other fields joined the Raksha Bandhan celebration at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur.
- Wife of late Colonel Ashok Kumar Dubey among those who tied rakhi to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
- CM says women’s dignity, security and economic empowerment remain among his government’s highest priorities.
- Around 68 lakh women are receiving assistance under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
- Chhattisgarh has 13.85 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’, exceeding the state’s assigned target of eight lakh.
- CM highlights growing role of Drone Didis, E-rickshaw Didis and women-led self-help groups in the rural economy.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s residence in Raipur turned into a setting of affection and celebration on Friday, August 28, as women from different sections of society tied rakhi on his wrist and extended their blessings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
Welcoming them, Sai described their affection as a source of strength and said Raksha Bandhan represents the enduring relationship of love, trust and responsibility between brothers and sisters.
“For me, it is a matter of great fortune that sisters from different sections of society have come to the Chief Minister’s residence to celebrate this sacred festival. Your affection and blessings inspire me to work with even greater dedication for the welfare of the mothers and sisters of Chhattisgarh,” Sai said.
Among those who tied rakhi to the Chief Minister was Sarla Dubey, wife of late Colonel Ashok Kumar Dubey. Sai recalled the late Army officer’s association with Chhattisgarh and described receiving a rakhi from Dubey’s wife as an emotional and proud moment.
Chhattisgarh Film Development Corporation Chairperson Mona Sen applies tilak to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai before tying him a rakhi during the Raksha Bandhan celebration at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur on Friday, August 28, 2026-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
The gathering included Savita Didi and Smriti Didi of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Savitri Jaiswal, Padma Shri Usha Barle, Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission chairperson Mamta Sahu and Chhattisgarh Film Development Corporation chairperson Mona Sen, besides women journalists, members of self-help groups, Lakhpati Didis, Drone Didis, E-rickshaw Didis, Team Prahari members and women with disabilities.
From Raksha Bandhan to economic empowerment
Sai used the occasion to underline his government’s focus on women’s financial independence, saying empowerment must translate into greater control over income, livelihoods and economic opportunities.
“Women’s economic empowerment is among the highest priorities of our government,” the Chief Minister said.
Referring to the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, he said nearly 68 lakh women receive ₹1,000 every month. Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, the government transferred more than ₹631 crore as the scheme’s 31st instalment on August 25.
Sai said the programme had gone beyond direct financial assistance by giving women greater confidence to meet personal and household requirements, invest in their children’s education and health, save money and pursue livelihood activities.
A young woman applies tilak to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai during the Raksha Bandhan celebration at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur on Friday, August 28, 2026-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
The Chief Minister also highlighted Chhattisgarh’s progress under the Lakhpati Didi initiative. Against a target of eight lakh women, he said, the state has enabled 13.85 lakh women to become Lakhpati Didis over the past two years.
He cited Drone Didis, E-rickshaw Didis and women involved in self-help groups as examples of the changing economic role of women in the state. According to Sai, 92 E-rickshaw Didis are operating in Nava Raipur, while another 50 women were provided E-rickshaws at Bagia in Jashpur during the Raksha Bandhan period.
“We do not want women to remain merely beneficiaries of government schemes. We want them to become strong participants in economic activity and the development process,” Sai said.
He also referred to incentives for women entrepreneurs under Chhattisgarh’s industrial policy and the concession available when property is registered in a woman’s name.
The Chief Minister linked women’s empowerment with the larger goal of building a developed Chhattisgarh, arguing that the state cannot achieve its ambitions without women playing a central role in its economic and social transformation.
“The dream of a developed Chhattisgarh cannot be realised without empowering women. Every mother and sister must have dignity and security, become economically self-reliant and receive opportunities to move forward according to her abilities and talent,” Sai said.
He concluded by describing the affection, confidence and blessings of the state’s women as a source of strength for the government.
