Raipur, 28 September 2024// Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil participated in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ program in Barga village of Rajnandgaon on September 28. The event was graced by Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, and MP Shri Santosh Pandey. During the program, they inaugurated 35 development projects worth Rs. 32.07 crore for the people of Rajnandgaon district and distributed departmental kits to various beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister underscored the importance of integrating cleanliness into daily routines, citing the inspiring story of 106-year-old Kunwar Bai from Kotabharri village in Dhamtari district, who sold her goats to build a toilet. Her actions became a symbol of the state’s commitment to cleanliness. He also acknowledged the efforts of Barga village’s sarpanch in improving groundwater levels and water conservation. Shri Sai emphasised the state’s accelerating development efforts, aligning with Prime Minister Shri Modi’s vision, and urged citizens to pledge their commitment to making Chhattisgarh clean and beautiful.
Shri Patil further reflected on Mahatma Gandhi’s focus on cleanliness alongside the freedom struggle and how Prime Minister Shri Modi personally led the Swachh Bharat campaign by wielding a broom himself. He highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provided free gas cylinders to women, reducing exposure to harmful kitchen smoke. Shri Patil also noted the construction of over 11 crore toilets across the country over the past decade, significantly improving public health, particularly for children. He commended Rajnandgaon district for its continued efforts in promoting cleanliness.
Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh emphasised the vital role of water conservation, particularly in rural areas, and commended the district’s significant progress in both water conservation and cleanliness. He highlighted the transformative impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission over the past decade, which has led to substantial improvements in public health and sanitation.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries. He mentioned that, in the first cabinet meeting, the state government approved the construction of over 18 lakh houses. Of these, funds have already been released for 9.37 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with the approval for an additional 90,000 houses currently underway. Shri Sharma also noted the state’s success in achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status for its villages and the ongoing efforts to upgrade them to ODF Plus status. He called on citizens to make cleanliness and groundwater recharge a people’s movement.
MP Shri Santosh Pandey underscored the importance of water in sustaining life and praised India’s advancements in water management and sanitation. He highlighted the growing public awareness of hygiene and the widespread construction of toilets in houses across the country. Shri Pandey also mentioned that development work has accelerated in the state with the “double engine” government.
