Raipur, President Mr. Ramnath Kovind said that Chhattisgarh is a shining example of spectacular development which should be emulated by all other States in the country. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of the five-day ‘Rajyotsav-2017’-Rajya Alankaran Samaroh – at Naya Raipur. Governor Mr. Balramji Das Tandon presided over the function. Mr. Kovind said that Chhattisgarh is blessed by pious saints and has a great heritage. Guru Ghasidas in the 18th century preached non-violence, truth and served the masses and he fought till the last breath for the rights of dalits, depressed sections of the society and rights of the last man in the queue. He recalled the legendary freedom fighter Amar Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh who fought the Britishers in the year 1857 and protected the farmers and poor. The President said that Chhattisgarh had the special blessings of Swami Vivekanand. The State Government is working for the emancipation of Adivasis, dalits and weaker sections of the society which were also the ideals of Swami Vivekanand. Mr. Kovind said that after the formation of new State, Chhattisgarh had taken up several social welfare measures. Naya Raipur is being developed as eco-friendly city- wide roads and green cover which should be emulated by other cities. About 60 lakh poor families are obtaining the benefits of Food Security Act. The president said that poor are getting subsidized rice and salt which is an example of Antyodaya. Smart Cards had been distributed to 56 lakh families which can be utilized for health benefits up to a ceiling of Rs 50 thousand. Farmers are getting loans on ‘Zero’ per cent interest. Girls are obtaining free education up to graduation-level. President Mr. Ramnath Kovind started his speech in Chhattisgarhi- ”Chhattisgarhi ke Bhai-behni man la jai johar. Chhattisgarh ke 17th janm din ke gaada-gaada badhai’. He greeted the citizens on the auspicious occasion of 17th anniversary of State Formation Day. He said that the State had created history and it is also a memorable day for him as it is his first visit to the State after becoming President. He recalled that he was a Member of Rajya Sabha when the talks of separate Chhattisgarh State were still going on. He always stood for creation of a separate State. He was glad that he is part of the 17th anniversary celebrations. Mr. Kovind said that the journey of new State had been spectacular in all parameters of development. He said Swami Vivekanand spent two years of his life in this pious land which is also his longest stay out of Kolkata. He appreciated that the Ramakrishna MIssion Ashram is operating hospitals and schools in dense jungles of Narayanpur since 1980. Chhattisgarh is blessed by Swami Vivekanand. The State is full of green forest cover, precious minerals and water resources. The President appreciated the tradition of felicitations’ ceremony in the name great personalities. He also told Dr. Raman Singh that he is doing a great work. President remembered the martyrs of Naxalites’ violence in the State. Mr. Kovind said that he laid wreaths at the Shaheed Smarak in the city. He revealed that there are more than 1100 martyrs. They laid down their lives to preserve peace in the State. If they had not sacrificed their lives most probably we would not be celebrating the ‘Utsav’ today. Governor Mr. Blaramji Das Tandon said that Chhattisgarh has entered the 18th year of its formation. It has progressed a lot in such a short span of period. The State Government is implementing several social welfare measures and also that of Union Government. Referring to the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ he said that all Municipal Corporations and Nagar Palikas had been declared ‘Open Defecation-Free’. About 15 thousand villages had attained ‘Swachhta’ status and little work is still to be done. The State Government will attain the Swachhta target a year earlier in 2018 itself. Mr. Tandon appreciated the Prime Minister ‘Ujjwala’ project. It has saved the poor women from smoking ‘chullahs’ . The State had already achieved 50per cent of its targets. Every poor person is getting seven kilogram rice. Youth had got Skills development rights. Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh welcomed the President. He said that ‘Rajyotsav’ is festival of more than two-and-half-crore citizens of the State. It is a festival of development. He gave a detailed description of various social welfare schemes for poor, farmers and depressed sections of the society. Dr. Raman Singh said that as a part of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s ‘Sowbhagyam’ project about three lakh 40 thousand houses will get electricity connections soon. Farmers will get paddy bonus next year also. The State will be ‘Open Defecation-Free’ by 2018. Dr. Raman Singh said that 1 lakh families will get ‘pucca’ houses. Roads are being laid at a cost of Rs 30 thousand crore in the entire State.’ Bharat Mala Project’ will benefit the state with a network of roads connecting three states. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister for sanctioning Rs 700 crore in the Left-Wing Extremism affected States. The State is rich in mineral resources. The State’s several districts are getting funds from the ‘Minerals Funds’ created by the Union Government which is hastening the progress of the districts.
