Chhattisgarh marks 80th Independence Day: CM Sai hails Naxal-free Bastar, ₹4,824 crore livelihood push
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh's Independence Day address was less a ceremonial speech and more a governance report card — CM Sai stacked number upon number to argue that Bastar's decade-long conflict is giving way to schools, health camps, and livelihood schemes. The ₹4,824 crore family income push and a ₹500 crore AI Mission in the same breath signal a state trying to leap from counter-insurgency to digital economy in one policy cycle.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai unfurled the National Flag at the Police Parade Ground, Raipur on 15 August 2025 for Chhattisgarh's 80th Independence Day .
Bastar , once heavily Naxal-affected, is now witnessing Tiranga Yatras , with CM Sai crediting PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the security turnaround.
A ₹4,824 crore livelihood upgradation scheme aims to raise incomes of nearly 10 lakh families ; 39 lakh people have benefited from 31 schemes under 'Niyad Nella Naar 2.0'. ₹19,444 crore transferred to women under Mahtari Vandan Yojana ; 13.85 lakh women enrolled as Lakhpati Didis .
Paddy procured at ₹3,100 per quintal ; irrigation projects worth over ₹11,000 crore approved, including the Sikas-Kodar canal linking project .
A ₹500 crore State AI Mission announced; 'Meri Beti-Mera Abhiman' campaign to build toilets in 6,671 government schools launched.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai unfurled the National Flag at the Police Parade Ground in Raipur on 15 August 2025, marking Chhattisgarh's 80th Independence Day celebrations with a sweeping account of the state's security gains and development agenda. Slogans of 'Jai Hind' and 'Vande Mataram' filled the air as the Chief Minister took the salute of the march-past before addressing a large gathering.
Bastar's Transformation: From Conflict to Development
CM Sai credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what he described as a historic rollback of Naxalism in the region. Bastar — once among the most Maoist-affected districts in India — is now witnessing Tiranga Yatras, he said. 'Areas once gripped by violence and fear are today witnessing peace, trust and development,' Sai told the gathering.
The 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council, held in Jagdalpur, was cited as a symbol of the region's shifting identity. Security camps, Sai said, are being repurposed as centres of service and development, with road, power, transport, and communication networks being expanded across the region.
Welfare Reach: 39 Lakh Beneficiaries Across 31 Schemes
Through the 'Niyad Nella Naar 2.0' and 'Bastar Munne Abhiyan' programmes, benefits of 31 schemes and 14 community facilities have reportedly reached more than 39 lakh people. Closed schools have been reopened, 36 new schools sanctioned, and education cities are under development in remote areas including Orchha and Jagargunda.
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan', health profiles of over 34 lakh people have been prepared. A ₹4,824 crore livelihood upgradation scheme aims to raise incomes of nearly 10 lakh families.
Farmers, Housing, and Women's Welfare
On agriculture, CM Sai said paddy is being procured at ₹3,100 per quintal, while crop diversification is being encouraged with input assistance of ₹15,000 per farmer for alternative crops. Irrigation projects worth over ₹11,000 crore have been approved, including the Sikas-Kodar canal linking project.
The state government has sanctioned 24.50 lakh houses, with an average of 1,600 homes built daily, according to Sai. Under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, ₹19,444 crore has been transferred directly to women's accounts, and 13.85 lakh women have been enrolled as Lakhpati Didis.
Youth, AI, and the 'Meri Beti-Mera Abhiman' Campaign
Sai announced a ₹500 crore State AI Mission aimed at preparing Chhattisgarh for the future economy, alongside new opportunities in employment, skill development, sports, and innovation for youth. He also launched the 'Meri Beti-Mera Abhiman' campaign to construct toilets for girls in 6,671 government schools, underscoring the state's stated commitment to inclusive development.
With Bastar's security situation stabilising and welfare metrics improving on paper, the coming months will test whether ground-level delivery matches the scale of the announcements made from the parade ground.
Point of View
34 lakh health profiles, 24.50 lakh sanctioned houses — is politically striking, but the gap between sanction and delivery in conflict-affected Bastar has historically been wide. The reframing of security camps as 'service centres' is a meaningful doctrinal shift if sustained, but Bastar's development deficit runs deep: school reopenings and canal projects will need years to show measurable outcomes. Pairing a ₹500 crore AI Mission with basic toilet construction in 6,671 schools in the same speech captures the state's uneven development baseline. The real test is not the announcement count but whether welfare reach in Orchha and Jagargunda matches the figures read out in Raipur.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Vishnu Deo Sai announce on Independence Day 2025 in Chhattisgarh?
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai used the 80th Independence Day address in Raipur to highlight security gains in Bastar and announce a ₹4,824 crore livelihood scheme targeting 10 lakh families. He also launched the 'Meri Beti-Mera Abhiman' campaign to build toilets in 6,671 government schools and unveiled a ₹500 crore State AI Mission.
What is the 'Niyad Nella Naar 2.0' scheme in Chhattisgarh?
'Niyad Nella Naar 2.0' is a welfare outreach programme in Bastar through which, along with the 'Bastar Munne Abhiyan', benefits of 31 government schemes and 14 community facilities have reportedly reached more than 39 lakh people. It is part of the state's broader effort to integrate formerly Naxal-affected areas into the development mainstream.
How much has Chhattisgarh transferred under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana?
The state government has transferred ₹19,444 crore directly to women's accounts under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. Additionally, 13.85 lakh women have been enrolled as Lakhpati Didis under the scheme.
What is the current paddy procurement rate in Chhattisgarh?
Paddy is being procured at ₹3,100 per quintal, according to CM Sai's Independence Day address. The government is also offering input assistance of ₹15,000 per farmer to encourage crop diversification toward alternative crops.
What is Chhattisgarh's ₹500 crore State AI Mission?
The ₹500 crore State AI Mission was announced by CM Sai on 15 August 2025 to prepare Chhattisgarh for the future economy by creating opportunities in technology, innovation, and skill development for youth. Detailed implementation guidelines were not outlined in the address.
