Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday said that the goal of building a developed Chhattisgarh can be achieved only through the all-round development of its villages.
Addressing a high-level review meeting and workshop of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of district panchayats at the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) in Nimora, Nava Raipur, he said gram panchayats should emerge as centres of social transformation, economic progress and self-reliant rural economies rather than remain limited to implementing government schemes.
The Chief Minister said the true test of good governance is whether government schemes reach the last person without discrimination. He urged officials to work with honesty, sensitivity and a spirit of service to strengthen public trust.
According to him, development becomes meaningful only when every eligible beneficiary receives support and every villager actively participates in the process. He asked officials to identify villages in every district that could be developed into model examples through community participation, effective planning and better use of local resources.
Referring to the Viksit Bharat Gram Gram Yojana, Sai described it as an important initiative for strengthening the rural economy. He instructed officials to focus on creating employment opportunities, durable community assets and quality infrastructure under the scheme.
Water conservation, agriculture, rural infrastructure, livelihoods and community assets, he said, should receive priority, while making it clear that the quality of construction work should not be compromised at any stage.
The Chief Minister stressed that rural development cannot be confined to constructing buildings. Sustainable growth, he said, depends on water conservation, soil health, agricultural productivity, animal husbandry, fisheries and the scientific management of local natural resources. He directed district administrations to prepare location-specific plans for water conservation and prioritise rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
Sai said women have emerged as a major force in rural development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More than 10.40 lakh women in Chhattisgarh have already become Lakhpati Didis, he said, adding that the government’s next objective is to help many of them become Crorepati Didis through entrepreneurship, skill development and self-employment.
He asked district panchayat CEOs to identify eligible women and connect them with self-help groups, livelihood programmes, skill development initiatives and opportunities arising from the state’s new industrial policy.
Giving special attention to Bastar, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that development reaches remote and inaccessible villages on priority. He said areas that were once difficult to access are now receiving roads, electricity, housing, ration facilities, drinking water, education and healthcare. The government’s goal, he added, is to ensure that these basic services reach every household.
Sai also directed officials to accelerate the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and ensure timely benefits for all eligible beneficiaries. He emphasised that payments under social security pension schemes should not be delayed and called for a robust monitoring mechanism at the panchayat level.
Highlighting the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the Chief Minister said the scheme is an important step towards energy self-reliance. He asked panchayats to promote it extensively so that more rural families adopt solar energy. He also called for special campaigns to help farmers and villagers benefit from solar pumps and other renewable energy schemes.
The Chief Minister said public service should aim to bring about lasting social change rather than merely fulfil official responsibilities. He urged officials to draw inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to public service and view their responsibilities as an opportunity to contribute to nation-building.
Referring to Padma Shri awardee Popatrao Pawar’s transformation of Maharashtra’s Hiware Bazar, Sai said determined leadership, public participation and transparent governance can change the future of any village. Recalling his first meeting with Pawar in 1999 after being elected to Parliament, he said the Hiware Bazar model has since become a nationally recognised example of rural development. He also cited Nanaji Deshmukh’s village development model at Chitrakoot and Dr Achyuta Samanta’s education-led social transformation in Odisha, urging officials to design development models suited to the needs and resources of their respective districts.
During the workshop, Padma Shri Popatrao Pawar shared the journey of Hiware Bazar, recalling that the village had struggled with water scarcity, migration, unemployment and several social challenges in 1989. Through community participation, discipline, water conservation and the scientific management of natural resources, he said, the village has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, migration has ended, there are no Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, around 5,000 litres of milk are collected every day, and the village’s per capita annual income has reached nearly ₹9 lakh.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Richa Sharma, Panchayat and Rural Development Secretary Bheem Singh, Director Priyanka Rishi Mahobia, retired IAS officer Amarjeet Sinha, Chief Executive Officers of all district panchayats, and senior officials of various departments attended the meeting.