“Life is incomplete without education. Education is not merely a means to secure a job, but a path to success in life. Education is the mantra of social development. Whether it is the art of living, business, agriculture, or any other field, education plays a vital role in every sphere of success,” Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said while addressing the National Fishermen Awareness Conference at the Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur.
The Chief Minister said the state government has been consistently working to strengthen the education sector since the formation of Chhattisgarh. “At the time of state formation, there was only one medical college in Chhattisgarh. Today, the state has around 15 medical colleges,” he said. “Institutions of national and international repute, such as IIT, IIIT, IIM, Law University, AIIMS, and CIPET, have been established in Chhattisgarh, benefiting local students immensely.”
Sai further informed that the construction of Nalanda campuses is underway in every district of the state, offering both direction and opportunity to the youth.
Highlighting the importance of social unity, the Chief Minister said, “Society must remain organised since a strong society builds a strong nation.” He cautioned that addiction remains a major obstacle to social progress and urged the community to take a pledge towards de-addiction and social reform.
Referring to initiatives for fisherfolk, Sai said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, a revolutionary step that has uplifted the standard of living of fishermen across the country.” He added, “In line with this, the Chhattisgarh government has recently ended the contractor system at the Gangrel Dam and restored fishing rights to farmers in the submergence areas.”
The Chief Minister emphasised that his government is continuously working to integrate the fishing community into the mainstream of development. “Several schemes have been initiated in the fisheries sector. The state’s first Aqua Park is being developed at the Hasdeo Bango Reservoir at a cost of about ₹37 crore. The park will open up new opportunities in four key areas — fish production, processing, export, and tourism,” he said.
He also mentioned that fish farming is currently being carried out in 800 cages at the reservoir, benefiting several local panchayats. “This is a major step towards increasing the income of our fishermen and strengthening the rural economy,” Sai said.
Extending warm greetings and best wishes to all office-bearers of the National Fishermen Association and fishermen from across the country, the Chief Minister congratulated the community on the successful organisation of the conference.
In his address, Union Minister of State Dr. Rajbhushan Chaudhary Nishad said that the Nishad community has a glorious history and tradition. “It is essential that the new generation learns about and takes pride in this heritage,” he remarked. He added, “Our visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always given an esteemed place to the Nishad community. When the grand temple of Lord Ram Lalla was built in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Modi also ensured the construction of the Nishad Raj Temple on the banks of the Saryu River, thereby honouring the community. The Nishad community will always remain grateful to him for this gesture.”