Chief Minister Raman Singh carried out free distribution of around 473 solar lamps to the villagers at Sahaspur lohara in Kabirdham district on Wednesday afternoon and the Kavardha district headquarters during the second phase of his month-long Vikas Yatra currently underway in the State.
Singh not only distributed the lamps to the villagers but also provided various tips on how to use the lamp and its benefits to the villagers and the Baiga tribals present in large numbers.
Similarly, the Chief Minister after distributing the solar study lamps to the school children told them about how to use them and the key features of the lamp.
During the conduct of the public meetings, Singh distributed a total of 173 lamps to the beneficiaries at Pandariya which included many school children present on the occasion.
Besides the solar lamps, the Chief Minister also distributed mosquito nets to the beneficiaries. Singh advised the Baiga tribals that they must carry the solar lamps being distributed to them when they venture out of their homes at night for any work.
He said that the lamp would come handy to provide to protection them from snakes, scorpions and other poisonous insects on their way through the forest or through the farms during night.
The CM told the school children that they can keep the lamp on their beds at night and study in its light which would also enable them to complete their home work.
Singh while trying to meet every person on his way and ask about their welfare in the tribal dominated region went about asking the older folk whether the solar lamp distributed by him would be useful for them or not.
The milling crowd present during his Yatra were trying hard to reach the Chief Minister and talk to him while he went about talking and shaking hands with whomever he met on the way.
At Kavardha , during the second phase of his Vikas Yatra, Singh distributed various items to the beneficiaries under different welfare programmes which either comprised distribution of bonus for paddy , handing over of a bicycle, motor pumps or solar lamps as beneficiaries lined up in large number to take them.
Entire families had arrived in some places to meet the Chief Minister who went about in the scorching heat while meeting them. The biggest public meetings were addressed by the Chief Minister at Tilai, Khairagarh, Chuikhadaan, Gandai and lohara.
A woman bought along her little girl to meet the Chief Minister to which Singh asked why she had bought her little girl with her in the heat and she should have thought about the health of the girl before coming out in the scorching summer heat.
A large number of houses on the way of the Vikas Yatra were found decorated with lighting and flowers as the Chief Minuster passed from the dusty towns and villages.
On this occasion the Raman performed bhumi pujan and laid foundation stones for different construction works worth Rs 11.91 crore in Sahaspur lohra area of the district, including dedication of 54 works worth Rs 7.54 crore and foundation laying ceremony of 10 works worth Rs 4.37 crore. Construction of Krishi Seva Kendra, bridge and culverts, roads, houses and three 33/11 kv power sub stations are included in the sanctioned works. The CM has declared to sanction solar lamps to the Baiga adivasis.
Raman Singh has distributed various articles worth Rs 11.45 crore to about 11,000 beneficiaries under the various beneficiary oriented schemes of the State Government departments. He has also given away paddy bonus Rs 11.27 crore to a total of 8,251 farmers and Rs 3 lakh as sugarcane bonus to 33 farmers of Sahaspur lohra development block.
Empowerment of women Raman Singh said that the State Government was marching towards the empowerment of women as they are the symbol of ‘Ma Annapurna’. They have the responsibility from feeding to making healthy atmosphere of the family. looking to the women’s responsibilities, the State Government has decided to issue new ration cards of the families in their name, he added.
To promote information technology in the State, the State Government has been giving away free laptop and tablets to the final year engineering, medical, agriculture, BA, B Com, post graduation students, the Chief Minister said.