Governor Shekhar Dutt has extended his New Year greetings to the people of State.
In his message on the eve of New Year ,the Governor stated that the coming year inspires one to fulfill ones duties with complete dedication and responsibility.
Dutt called upon the citizens and particularly children and the youth to provide a real shape to their dreams by setting a higher target and working towards achieving the same in the New Year.
Chief Minister Raman Singh while wishing a very happy and a prosperous New Year to the people of the State said in his message that after a whole lot of experiences, ups and downs and challenges, year 2013 has come to an end.
Taking lessons from the past experiences, we are now ready to welcome the New Year. In this New Year, we should all make efforts for the peace and prosperity of our families, State, society, country and the world as a whole, he said. Singh wished that year 2014 brings peace, prosperity and well-being to all the people.
He said that for Chhattisgarh, this New Year will be the year of new enthusiasm and courage to achieve higher goals of development.
Singh said that during year 2013, Chhattisgarh has achieved exemplary success in various sectors. And now as per the commitments made in the election manifesto, the State Government will initiate Atal Agro-labourers Insurance Scheme for more than 17 lakh agriculture labourers of State.
likewise, the scheme of distributing food grains at nominal rate of Rs 1 per kg to lakhs of poor families in State, through fair price shops, will also be commenced from January, 2014.
Moreover, the responsibility to conduct Midday meal programme for school students in rural areas and distribution of nutritious food to children and pregnant women in Anganbadi centres, will also be entirely handed over to the women self-help groups, the Chief Minister stated.
From the new academic session, the responsibility of stitching and distribution of school uniforms to the children of rural areas will also be given to the women self-help groups, Singh said.
The various concerned departments have already issued orders to implement the announcements, he said.
The Chief Minister said that State Government has mentioned in its manifesto that the rate of bonus provided to the farmers against the procurement of paddy on support price at cooperative societies will be increased from Rs 270 to Rs 300 per quintal.
It has been decided that the small forest produce like tamarind, Mahua seed, Chironji, Kosa, Cocoon will be procured by the Government itself, as done in case of Tendu Patta, so as to benefit the lakhs of forest-dweller families, he said.
Singh also extended warm wishes on New Year to all the farmers, labourers, students, Government and non-Government employees and officials, people of business class, media-persons, litterateurs, artists and all other sections of society.