Chhattisgarh chief minister Dr Raman Singh, at the public meeting held on the second day of the state-wide Vikas Yatra at Bastar tehsil headquarters on Tuesday became sentimental when a 70-year-old woman blessed him while receiving ration card from him.
At the public meeting, the chief minister informed people that when he asked an old woman of the area whether she know him, she replied that he (Raman Singh) is their “Chaur walla Baba”. Dr Singh said that people of the area love and bless him in the name of “Chaur walla Baba” and that is the priceless treasure of his life.
Raman Singh said that he could not describe in words the abundance of love and support he received at Dantewada, Kilepal, Thokapal, Keshalpur, Jagadalpur and from Konta to Bastar, since he started the Vikas Yatra at Dantewada on May 6 with the blessings of Mata Danteshwari.
The Chief Minister, at the mammoth public meeting, has started distribution of ration cards under the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act 2012 to 28,000 families of Bastar. As a token the chief minister has given away new ration cards to a large number of beneficiaries.
On the occasion the chief minister declared sanction of Rs 1.81 crore for the construction of an ITI and a 100-seat girls’ hostel building at the nearby Bakawad development block headquarters, Rs 3.29 crore for construction of anicut at Banlega village, Rs 2.76 crore for construction of anicut at Baagmahalai and Rs 2.0 crore for construction of police chouki and residential buildings at Ghotia.
At the public meeting, the chief minister said that Chhattisgarh is the first state that has given legal rights to the poor to have foodgrain at lower price. With the cooperation and support of the residents Chhattisgarh received the credit of the first state in the country that has passed the Food Security Act, he added.
On the implementation of the Act, he said, the number of families that have been receiving 35 kg foodgrain at Re 1 and Rs 2 per kg per month and two kg free iodine salt, would be increased from 32 lakh to 42 lakh in the state. They would be given two kilo gram at Rs 5 per kg in the scheduled areas and 2 kg pulses (daal) at Rs 10 per kg in the non-scheduled areas, the chief minister added.