Chief Minister Raman Singh has stated that Chhattisgarh is extremely proud to host the '20th National Youth Festival' beginning from January 12 in which nearly 6,000 youth will participate and exhibit art of their respective states in 18 different cultural genres.
Singh in his monthly Radio Programme titled 'Raman Ke Goth' aired by All India Radio (AIR) on Sunday said : ‘It is also a matter of pride for us that Swami Vivekananda had spent two years of his childhood in Chhattisgarh.’
He said : ‘ New Year is an opportunity to move towards new goals and directions. I am glad to inform that with beginning of New Year, two significant works have started in the State from this January month which will have lasting and positive impact on the future generation. After two days, we will be celebrating birth anniversary of great persona Swami Vivekananda on January 12, which is observed in the entire nation as 'Youth Day'. I am more than happy to inform that Government of India has declared '20th National Youth Festival' to be organised in Raipur from January 12 to 16, 2016.’
The Chief Minister said that the event has been named as 'Yuva Kriti' and mascot for the same is the State animal of Chhattisgarh - Wild Buffalo, in famous dancing pose of Bastar. This mascot symbolises strength, gives message of physical fitness to youth of nation and its dancing pose signifies festive zeal.
This mascot has been named as 'Sangi', which means 'friend'. Dancing pose of youngsters symbolises joyous environment in State. The dancing pose is from famous dance of Bastar- a tribal area, which is the sign of rich cultural heritage of the nation. I want young talented people of Chhattisgarh to give their best shot in this fest and win hearts of people with their hospitality, Singh said.
He also reflected deep concern and empathy for children and pregnant ladies suffering from malnutritition and drought affected farmers in state.
The Chief Minister threw light on the measures taken by State Government for eradication of malnutrition and for relief of drought-affected farmers.
He boosted morale of farmers by saying that the road of life sometimes goes rough and the journey seems difficult but one should not give up hope; we should move ahead with faith and patience.
Singh said that his Government is standing with the farmers in this difficult time. Natural calamity like drought cannot delay the social events of the families. Keeping this in view, he said: ‘The financial aid of `15,000, which was provided under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana to farmers for marriage of their daughters, has now been been doubled.
The State Government has decided to give away `30,000 as financial aid for marriage of drought-affected daughters of farmers.
With hearty greetings of New Year to people of the State, the Chief Minister extended warm wishes of Chhattisgarh's traditional festival 'Chher-Chhera Punni'.
He wished in advance for upcoming occasions of Makar Sankranti, Republic Day, Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary (National Youth Day).
In the last four episodes of his Radio programme, Singh has been giving his message to the public in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi language, but this time on special request of listeners, the Chief Minister chose to speak initial part of his message in Halbi and Surgujiha dialect along with Chhattisgarhi.
People in different parts of the city enthusiastically tuned in their radios to listen to Chief Minister's 'Raman Ke Goth' programme aired from Raipur Centre of Akashwani, sponsored by Public Relations Department.
The programme was relayed in all the Akashwani centres of the State. In the fifth episode of Chief Minister's 'Raman Ke Goth', Singh said that building a new generation is as important as, in fact more important than development of infrastructure like roads, railway tracks, bridges, school, college and hospitals.
Singh said that a new generation can be built with education and health facilities. In the same sequence, the Chief Minister talked about the steps taken by State Government for malnutrition eradication while saying that for improvement in Aanganbadi services, state-wide Aanganbadi quality campaign will be launched on January 4 which will go on till January 13.
He appealed people to actively support the campaign.
The Chief Minister said that during the last 10 years, number of Aanganbadi centres in the State has increased from 21,000 to 50,000. The number of women and children beneficiaries availing daily nutritious supplement meal in these centres has also increased from 13 lakh to 25 lakh. Resultantly, malnutrition rate in the State has reduced from 52 per cent to 32 per cent, whereas target to reduce it further to 25 per cent has been set.
Singh said, in his address to drought-affected farmers, that 117 tehsils in the State are drought-affected. The State Government has decided to provide employment of additional 50 days, other than the 150-day employment under MNREGA, to needy people in these areas. In this way, they will get employment of a total of 200 days. Presently, employment-oriented works under MNREGA have been started in more than 8,000 Gram Panchayats, in which more than 10 lakh villagers have been employed.
The Chief Minister also gave information about the State Government's initiatives to bring relief to drought-affected farmers.
He said that State Government has completely waived off the land revenue and irrigation tax for this year in affected areas. Under Revenue Book Circular (RBC) 6-4, farmers of unirrigated land incurring damage of more than 33 per cent of crops are being provided relief amount of `6800 and farmers of irrigated areas incurring the same loss are being provided relief amount at the rate of `13,500.
The Chief Minister said : ‘I have issued directives that this amount should be distributed by January 31. If the farmers, who have taken agriculture loan in year 2015, pay back 75 per cent of the loan amount by March 15, 2016, then remaining 25 per cent of the loan amount will be waived off.’
The farmers who are unable to pay the loan in given time, their short-term loans will be converted into interest-free mid-term loans. This will benefit nearly five lakh farmer families, he said.
Singh further informed that 37 per cent drought-affected villages will be provided facility of payment of 30 per cent interest free loans in current fiscal year 2015-16, 50 per cent in year 2016-17 and that of 20 per cent interest free loan payment in year 2017-18.
Nearly 400 metric tonnes of corn seeds (mini-kits) will be distributed to farmers free of cost for cultivation of corn on area of nearly 20,000 hectares, he said.
'Kisan-Mitan Kendra' will be established in each district, where farmers will be able to convey their grievances and arrangement for redressal of the same will be made. 'Kisan-Sangwari Kendras' have also been established for supporting farmers in Gram Panchayats, Singh said.
The Chief Minister also mentioned about the state-wide Aanganbadi quality campaign.
He said that under the campaign, works and services of Aanganbadi centres are being monitored with active participation of State Government's ministers and public representatives. Public participation is also being ensured. After evaluation of the quality of services, significant steps for improvement will be taken.
'Aanganbadi Mitra' and 'Bal Mitra' are playing important roles in this campaign. People are being encouraged to voluntarily adopt children suffering from malnutrition. Meanwhile, ready-to-eat unit and Aanganbadi centres are being inspected and Nutrition fairs are being organised, the Chief Minister said.