In a unique exercise to bring the Chiefs of Panchayat and municipal bodies on a tour of Chhattisgarh’s capital and its other cities to watch the pace of State’s development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday launched the ‘Hamar Chhattisgarh’ project in the new capital amid much fanfare.
In his address after launching the project, the Chief Minister said : “Even though the soil, water, villages, people and trees are different but still we all are the progeny of ‘Chhattisgarh Mother’.”
Notably, this the first time after the formation of Chhattisgarh State 16 years ago that 1.71 lakh elected representatives (Panchs-Sarpanchs) of the 10,971 Gram Panchayats and 1986 corporators of 111 Nagar Panchayats will tour the capital in groups from Friday during the next two years.
The Panchayat chiefs and corporators will be updated on details regarding the rapid development of Chhattisgarh during the past decade and more, he said.
The 1.75 lakh 'panchs and sarpanchs' and other public representatives will mingle soil, water and saplings at Naya Raipur and get spiritually and emotionally get linked up with Naya Raipur, Singh said.
They will also be a witness to the rapid development of Chhattisgarh during the past 10-12 years and convey the message when they go back to their native villages, the Chief Minister said.
Singh was inaugurating the 'Hamar Chhattisgarh' project at Naya Raipur. The inauguration ceremony was held village Uparwara-based Hotel Management Institute.
About 500 representatives from Rajnandgaon, Kabirdham and Dhamtari districts are part of a first group of visitors. The people's representatives along with Chief Minister and other Ministers planted saplings brought from their native villages at the Botanical Gardens at Naya Raipur. They brought soil and water also from their native places.
The Chief Minister while inaugurating the 'Hamar Chhattisgarh' programme said that State Government had been striving for the welfare and betterment of farmers, villagers and poor of various sections of the society.
Farm equipment sprinklers and drip irrigation are being provided to the farmers at subsidized rates, he said.
About 25 lakh poor women of Chhattisgarh will be provided domestic gas connections at a nominal rate of Rs 200 under the Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana soon. Under the 'Swachch Bharat' Mission the target is to declare entire nation 'open defecation-free' by 2019, the Chief Minister stated.
Singh added that if the Panchayat representatives co-operate then the goal can be achieved a year ahead in Chhattisgarh. The Gram Panchayats and Nagar Panchayats' representatives should have all the details of various programmes so that they can update the masses in their villages.
'Hamar Chhattisgarh' project will update the panchayats' representatives on the various programmes of several departments of the State Government.