CM honours the elderly on International Senior Citizens Day
Empathize with challenges of elderly individuals and reassure them with care and support: Chief Minister
Understanding the feelings of the elderly, the Chhattisgarh government is ready to serve them
Chief Minister Shri Sai inaugurated development works worth Rs 187 crore in Surajpur district and performed Bhoomi Pujan
Raipur, 01 October 2024// On the occasion of International Senior Citizens Day, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai honoured the senior citizens in a special ceremony organized at Surajpur district on Tuesday. In the ceremony, Chief Minister felicitated the elderly of the district with Shawl, coconut and benefited them with various schemes of the government.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Sai said, “On this dedicated day I salute all the senior citizens for their legacy, guidance and request the youth to serve and seek their blessings by serving them wholeheartedly.”
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the Government of Chhattisgarh has rolled out several beneficial schemes for all sections of society including underprivileged, labourers, farmers and women. More than 14 lakh senior citizens of the state are being given pension amount in their account to meet their basic needs.
In addition to enhancing the health of the elderly, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has introduced the provision of free treatment through the Ayushman card for individuals over 70 years of age in the budget. In this regard, we have instructed the Health Department to issue Ayushman cards to all elderly individuals and ensure they receive access to free treatment.
Chief Minister highlighted state government’s arrangement of Darshan of Lord ram in Ayodhaya for senior citizens. Apart from commuting Ayodhya through train and buses, there is special facility of accommodation and meals for them. With this scheme, the people of Chhattisgarh- the land of Mata Kaushalya are able to visit their nephew Lord Ram, said Chief Minister Shri Sai.
Mentioning about Prime Minister’s guarantee, Shri Sai said that state government has ensured assistance of financial and social aspect for farmers in the state. Hence, 21 quintals of paddy per acre was purchased from farmers for Rs 3100 and the due amount of bonus for past two years was also released. For benefit of Tendu leaf workers of Surguja to Bastar, state government has increased the rate of per sack from Rs 4000 to Rs 5500 and by implementing Mahtari Vandan Yojana an financial aid of Rs 1000 is being released monthly to more than 70 lakh women of the state.
“It has only been nine months since our government came into power and we are actively creating plans for all segments of the state while working towards its development. In the future, the pace of development will be expedited, ”said Shri Sai.
Addressing the function, the district in-charge and Food Minister Shri Dayaldas Baghel said that we should always respect our parents and elders in our homes. We are moving forward on the path of development only with their respect and blessings. Chhattisgarh government has initiated schemes for the welfare of the elderly. Pension, ashram, treatment, PM housing, free food grains, pilgrimage have been arranged for them.
Tribal Welfare and Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Sai, many public welfare schemes are being run in Chhattisgarh for the poor, laborers, farmers and all others. The farmers are being given the highest price for paddy along with release of fund for women under Mahatari Vandan Yojana.
At the ceremony, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade said that the elderly are like the soothing shade of a banyan tree in the family, who remove our difficulties in sorrow and pain. We should serve the elderly. She praised the district administration for organizing such a grand event in the district. MLA Shri Bhulan Singh Maravi also addressed the program. Collector Shri Rohit Vyas gave the welcome speech.
Key Announcements for Surajpur District Development
During the inauguration of cooperative bank in Birharpur, CM made significant announcement to develop Pilkha Pahad as a tourist destination, construct a new primary school in Gopalpur, and appointment of 103 single- teachers in the Bhatgaon assembly constituency. Other development related announcements included introduction of CT scan facilities at the Surajpur district hospital, the construction of a sports related synthetic running track at Surajpur College stadium and the repair of 9 km of the Bhaiyathan-Surajpur road. Additionally, he granted Nagar Panchayat status to Shivnandanpur Gram Panchayat and declared that the Surajpur Auditorium will be named after Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee. He congratulated the people of Surajpur for these development initiatives.
Foundation Stone for Development Works Worth Rs 187 Crores
During his visit, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai conducted Bhoomi Pujan, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 187.51 crores. This includes 159 works across various sectors such as Public Works, Rural Development, Tribal Welfare, and Health.
Distribution of PM Awas Keys
On International Senior Citizens Day, the Chief Minister distributed keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, celebrating the completion of houses for residents in Bhaiyathan, Odgi, Pratappur, Premnagar, Ramanujnagar, and Surajpur.
Digital Transformation Van
Chief Minister Sai also reviewed the Digital Transformation Van, part of the Saksham Surajpur initiative, during an event at Surajpur Agrasen Stadium. This digital bus provides free education on digital technologies to students over 12 in rural areas, aiming to prepare them for future challenges. Surajpur is the first district in Chhattisgarh to implement this program, which covers six development blocks and offers courses in digital banking and cybersecurity, complete with certification for participant.
Reviewed special health camp
On International Senior Citizens Day, a special health camp was organized to provide health benefits to the elderly and disabled people. In the camp, the team of the Health Department examined the patients for various diseases including blood, BP, sugar, arthritis, heart, respiratory, dental and eye, nose, ear, throat and provided them health benefits. They were also encouraged to adopt necessary advice and a healthy lifestyle.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai also distributed health cards to the elderly and sickle cell identity cards to sickle cell patients. The aim of providing regular health benefits to the elderly, the district administration started making elderly health cards for elderly people above 60 years of age in the camp to provide free of costs of diagnostic services and treatment facilities for senior citizens.
Distributed material and cheques to beneficiaries
During the program, the Chief Minister also visited the departmental stalls based on the development works of the government in the district. During this, stalls were set up by the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Department, Fisheries, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Health Department. Chief Minister Shri Sai visited all the stalls and distributed material and cheques under various schemes to the beneficiaries present at the stalls. During this, nets and ice boxes were distributed to 05 beneficiaries from the Fisheries Department and KCC cards to two beneficiaries, a cheque of subsidy amount of RS 60,000 under the State Dairy Entrepreneurship was given to one of the two beneficiaries from the Animal Husbandry Department and KCC card for poultry farming was distributed to one beneficiary while electric pumps were distributed to two beneficiaries from the Agriculture Department and KCC cards were distributed to two beneficiaries from the Horticulture Department. Under the Women and Child Development Department the Saksham Mahila Yojana, a beneficiary Ms Ruma Tiwari was given a cheque loan of Rs 1.20 lakh and from the Mahila Kosh a cheque loan of Rs 50,000 was distributed to the beneficiary group Chetna Mahila Group. During this, the baby shower of two pregnant mothers and the Annaprashan ceremony of two children were also performed. During this, the Chief Minister also distributed nutrition baskets to an anaemia-free woman Mrs Asha Kushwaha and a malnutrition-free four-year-old child Mayank Vishwakarma. During this, wheelchairs and sticks were also distributed to six beneficiaries under the Social Welfare Department.
Sarguja MP Shri Chintamani Maharaj, Premnagar MLA Shri Bhooln Singh Marawi, Pratappur MLA Smt. Shakuntala Singh Porte, Baikunthpur MLA Shri Bhaiyalal Rajwada, Ambikapur MLA Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Samari MLA Smt. Uddheswari Paikra, Lundra MLA Shri Prabodh Minj, Sitapur MLA Shri Ramkumar Toppo, former Home Minister Shri Ram Sevak Paikra, Shri Bhim Singh Agarwal, Shri Babulal Agarwal, Shri Rajesh Mahalwala and a large number of public representatives, dignitaries and common people were present in the program
