Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday, 28 June 2026, listened to the 135th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' at his official residence in Raipur, joined by senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Cabinet colleague Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, elected representatives, and a large number of party workers.

Context

'Mann Ki Baat' (Matters of the Mind) is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address broadcast on All India Radio, in which he speaks directly to citizens on themes of national development, social welfare, and grassroots innovation. The 135th episode, aired on 29 June 2026, covered a range of topics from insurance schemes to environmental conservation. Chief Minister Sai described the programme as 'janabhagidari aur prerana ka sashakt manch' — 'a powerful platform for public participation and inspiration.'

The listening event at the CM's Raipur residence brought together a cross-section of political and organisational figures, underscoring the BJP's practice of organising collective listening sessions for the programme across states.

Policy Backdrop

In this episode, Prime Minister Modi highlighted two flagship social-security schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), an accident insurance scheme offering Rs 2 lakh cover for an annual premium of Rs 20, and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), a life insurance scheme providing Rs 2 lakh cover for Rs 436 per year. Both schemes, launched in 2015, target low-income households and have enrolled hundreds of millions of subscribers nationwide.

The Prime Minister also spoke on rainwater harvesting, nature conservation, and living root bridges — an indigenous bio-engineering practice found in Meghalaya, where local communities train the aerial roots of rubber fig trees into functional bridges over generations. These references reinforced the episode's overarching message of swadeshi (self-reliance) and citizen-led nation-building.

Stakeholders and Impact

The presence of Indresh Kumar, a senior pracharak (organiser) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), at the CM's residence signals the ideological alignment between the BJP government in Chhattisgarh and the broader Sangh ecosystem. His participation at such a public event alongside elected officials is notable given the RSS's traditionally low-profile public presence.

Cabinet Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, who holds charge of key portfolios in the Sai government, was also present, lending institutional weight to the listening session. For Chhattisgarh, a state with large rural and tribal populations, the insurance schemes highlighted by the Prime Minister are particularly relevant, as financial inclusion and social security remain ongoing priorities.

What's Next

Chief Minister Sai indicated that the Prime Minister's message is intended to inspire every citizen to play an active role in national development — a call that state governments are expected to translate into outreach and implementation drives for schemes like PMSBY and PMJJBY. With Mann Ki Baat now in its 135th episode, the programme continues to serve as a direct communication channel between the Union government and citizens, and state administrations routinely use such occasions to reinforce scheme awareness at the grassroots level.