Collectors should take the works sanctioned under the Scheduled Caste Development Authority seriously and complete them within the time limit with full quality: Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai

The budget of Scheduled Caste Development Authority was increased from Rs 50 crore to Rs 75 crore

Financial assistance will be given to five youth of Scheduled Caste category to make them pilots every year

Approval of Rs 2 crore for the development of Giraudhpuri Dham, Rs 50 lakh for coaching of Scheduled Caste students

Raipur, 7 August 2025: In the meeting of Scheduled Caste Development Authority held in the District Panchayat Hall of Janjgir-Champa district today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, approval was given to increase the budget of the authority from Rs 50 crore to Rs 75 crore. Chief Minister Sai directed that all the collectors should take the works approved from the authority item seriously and ensure that they are completed within the stipulated time frame with high quality. He said that now the meeting of the Authority will be held on time every year and the works will be thoroughly reviewed. Chief Minister Sai said that the government is fully committed to the social, cultural and economic upliftment of the Scheduled Caste community in accordance with the intention of the Constitution. He said that while protecting the constitutional rights granted by Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, we are empowering the sense of respect and equality in the society by assimilating the message of ‘Mankhe-Mankhe Ek Saman’ of Baba Guru Ghasidas ji. He said that it is the top priority of the government that the benefits of the schemes reach the person standing in the last row of the society.

Chief Minister Sai said that Janjgir-Champa district was specially chosen for this meeting because it is a Scheduled Caste dominated area. He said that the state of Chhattisgarh has entered the 25th year of its establishment, and now the time has come for us to set new records in the direction of development. Chief Minister Sai said that development work has been done in the state in accordance with the concept of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Authority is a powerful medium for the proper development of the Scheduled Caste society, through which the government is making concrete efforts. Chief Minister Sai announced approval of Rs 2 crore for the development of Giraudhpuri Dham, Rs 50 lakh for coaching arrangements for SC students, assistance for pilot training to 5 youth of Scheduled Caste category every year, and approval of funds for the use of cement as well as wood in the construction of Joda Jaitkhambh. Also, he informed about increasing the number of seats to 200 in the Tribal Youth Hostel operating in Delhi and motivated the students to take advantage of it for preparing for competitive examinations. He also talked about the construction of ‘Nalanda Campus’ in all the district headquarters in the coming time.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sai expressed deep displeasure over the pending works approved from the authority head for years and said that even though the amount of the works of the authority is less, their social importance is very big. Not completing these works on time is a matter of concern. Addressing the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw said that continuous work is being done for the upliftment of the Scheduled Caste society under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai. The thinking of the Chief Minister is clear in the direction of connecting the deprived section of the society with the mainstream. He gave instructions to complete all the pending works soon and reiterated his resolve for the overall development of Chhattisgarh by taking all the communities along. Vice President of Scheduled Caste Development Authority Guru Khuswant Saheb expressed gratitude for the works being done for the development of the society under the leadership of Chief Minister Sai. He placed demands like construction of ropeway at Giraudhpuri Dham, expansion of basic facilities during fair organization, necessary arrangements for bathing near Jok River, accommodation facilities, use of wood in Joda Jaitkhambh, conservation and beautification of the historical pond at Baradera Dham, arrangement of smart classes for students in the meeting. He also expressed gratitude for the increase in budget and acceptance of the demands.

In the meeting, topics such as the structure of the authority, its scope, review of approved works, information on budget provisions, and progress of approved works from financial year 2020 to 2025, including civic amenities, socio-cultural activities, and educational facility expansion were discussed in detail. Based on the proposals of regional public representatives and authority members, development and beneficiary-oriented works worth more than Rs 49 crore were approved. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw, Vice President Guru Khuswant Saheb, Minister Dayal Das Baghel, Lakhan Lal Devangan, Laxmi Rajwada, Tankaram Verma, MP Kamlesh Jangde, MLA Punnulal Mohle, Domanlal Korsevada, Dilip Lahariya, Sheshraj Harvansh, Uttari Ganpat Jangde, Kavita Pran Lahare, Harshita Swami Baghel, including Commissioners, IGs of Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg Divisions and Collectors of 17 districts were present. It is noteworthy that the jurisdiction of the Scheduled Caste Authority is the entire state which includes 17 Scheduled Caste dominated districts of the state – Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Bilaspur, Mungeli, Raipur, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariaband, Raigarh, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Durg, Bemetara, Balod, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh, and other districts where the Scheduled Caste population is more than 25 percent. Present in the meeting were Janjgir-Champa District Panchayat Chairperson Satyalata Anand Miri, Rajesh Suryavanshi from Bilaspur, Gaurishankar Kashyap from Gariaband, Additional Chief Secretary Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Sonamni Bora, Secretary to the Chief Minister P. Dayanand and Basav Raju, Director General of Police Arundev Gautam, Departmental Secretaries Shehla Nigar, Rohit Yadav, Kamalpreet Singh, Reena Baba Saheb Kangale, R. Many senior officers including Prasanna, Shammi Abidi were present.