CM Sai listens to Mann Ki Baat episode 138 at Kanker Eklavya school
Synopsis
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the 138th episode of PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat at the Birsa Munda Auditorium of Eklavya Vidyalaya in Lamkanhar, Kanker, underscoring tribal education outreach and Jan Bhagidari messaging in Chhattisgarh.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai attended the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 27 September 2026 .
The event was held at Birsa Munda Auditorium inside the Eklavya Vidyalaya, Lamkanhar, Kanker district , Chhattisgarh.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools serve Scheduled Tribe students in remote areas and were expanded nationally after 2014.
Mann Ki Baat was launched by PM Narendra Modi in October 2014 on All India Radio as a monthly citizen-outreach programme.
CM Sai , Chhattisgarh's first tribal chief minister, took office in December 2023 and has prioritised tribal welfare and education.
State governments across BJP-ruled states regularly organise public listening sessions for Mann Ki Baat to highlight local Jan Bhagidari examples.
In a tribal heartland classroom named after a 19th-century revolutionary, Chhattisgarh's top elected official sat down to listen to the nation's most-listened-to radio programme. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the 138th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat at the Birsa Munda Auditorium of the Eklavya Vidyalaya in Lamkanhar, Kanker district, on Sunday, 27 September 2026.
A tribal school as the stage
The choice of venue was deliberate. Eklavya Model Residential Schools, run by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, were established to bring quality residential education to Scheduled Tribe children in remote, forested regions — exactly the demographic that Mann Ki Baat has consistently sought to amplify. Kanker, a district in northern Chhattisgarh with a predominantly tribal population, sits squarely within that mission. Naming the auditorium after Birsa Munda — the 19th-century Jharkhand-born tribal leader who led an armed resistance against colonial land seizures — layers historical symbolism onto what might otherwise be a routine government event.
Episode 138 and the Jan Bhagidari message
The Chief Minister's Office described Mann Ki Baat as a 'powerful medium' (sashakt madhyam) that carries 'inspiring initiatives, the strength of public participation, and positive stories of change from every corner of the country to crores of citizens.' The CMO's post added that these stories 'are giving new energy to the resolve of nation-building.' Prime Minister Modi launched the All India Radio programme in October 2014; by its 138th episode it has become a fixture in BJP-governed states' outreach calendar, with state governments regularly organising public listening sessions to underscore alignment with central governance themes and to spotlight local Jan Bhagidari examples.
Chhattisgarh's tribal education footprint
CM Sai, who took office in December 2023 as the BJP's first tribal chief minister of Chhattisgarh, has positioned tribal welfare and education access as signature priorities. Holding the listening session inside an Eklavya school — rather than a government secretariat or party office — sends a visual signal about where that commitment is rooted. The Eklavya school network was significantly expanded nationally after 2014, with Chhattisgarh, one of the states with the highest Scheduled Tribe populations, receiving several new campuses in scheduled areas.
Whether specific Chhattisgarh initiatives featured in episode 138's content, or whether the state government announces follow-up actions tied to the programme's themes, will shape the practical impact of Sunday's gathering. For now, the image of a chief minister listening alongside tribal schoolchildren in a district auditorium bearing Birsa Munda's name carries its own message — one the CMO clearly intended for a national audience.
Point of View
The symbolism of Birsa Munda's name on the auditorium wall amplifies that alignment. The choice also reflects a broader pattern in which state governments use the monthly broadcast as a low-cost, high-visibility platform to project governance continuity with New Delhi. Whether this translates into scheme announcements or grassroots follow-through remains the real test.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mann Ki Baat and how many episodes have aired?
Mann Ki Baat is a monthly radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on All India Radio, launched in October 2014. The 138th episode aired on 27 September 2026, making it over a decade of continuous broadcasts covering citizen initiatives and governance themes.
Why did CM Sai attend Mann Ki Baat at an Eklavya school in Kanker?
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chose the Eklavya Vidyalaya in Lamkanhar, Kanker to hold the listening session, linking the programme's Jan Bhagidari message with tribal education outreach. Kanker is a predominantly tribal district and Eklavya schools specifically serve Scheduled Tribe students in remote areas.
Who was Birsa Munda and why is the auditorium named after him?
Birsa Munda was a 19th-century tribal leader from Jharkhand who led an armed resistance against colonial land dispossession. Naming the school auditorium after him is a tribute to tribal heritage and identity, widely recognised in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
What are Eklavya Model Residential Schools?
Eklavya Model Residential Schools are government residential schools run by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe children in remote and forested areas. The scheme was significantly expanded after 2014, with multiple new campuses in Chhattisgarh.
Who is Vishnu Deo Sai and when did he become Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh?
Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, representing the BJP. He assumed office in December 2023 and is notable as the state's first chief minister from a Scheduled Tribe community.
