Raipur
In the meeting of the Chief Minister’s Council held at Ashok Hotel in the capital Delhi, the good governance models, innovations and public participation -based schemes of the Chhattisgarh government made a special identity. Innovative events like Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum presented by Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai attracted the attention of Chief Ministers of various states including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Arun Saw and Mr. Vijay Sharma were also present in the meeting.
Chief Minister Sai started his presentation with an institutional initiative of good governance in the state. He informed that the schemes are being implemented effectively by forming the ‘Good Governance and Convergence Department’ in Chhattisgarh. Plans are being monitored by digital platforms like ‘Atal Monitoring Portal’, making the solution of complaints possible in the prescribed time. He said that the purpose of the government is not only to make schemes, but to implement them with honesty and sensitivity at the ground level.
Special discussion was also held on the implementation of the Flagship schemes of the Center in the meeting. The Chief Minister said that schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Ayushman Bharat and Jal Life Mission have been delivered to the common people through Gram Sabha, mass media and technology in Chhattisgarh.
The most inspiring moment of the meeting came when the Chief Minister gave a special presentation on Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum. He quoted Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Khelage India, Jeetoge India’ mantra and said that Chhattisgarh has realized it on the ground. The Bastar Olympics has now become a social revolution, not just a sports event – who has snatched guns from the hands of the youth and has given the ball, spear and arrows.
The Chief Minister said that 1.65 lakh participants from 32 development blocks of 7 districts participated in this event. Three phases-held at the development block, district and division level, this competition was focused on 11 traditional sports like archery, kho-kho, kabaddi, race, tug of war, etc. Competitions were held in four categories – Junior, Senior, Women and Divyang.
Chief Minister Sai shared the example of Dornapal’s Punen Sana, who was once from a Naxal -influence area, but today he has become an inspiration for the whole society by winning medals in the wheelchair race. Prime Minister Shri Modi also praised the Bastar Olympics in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program and said that this event is not only a game, but a celebration of the soul of Bastar.
The Chief Minister said that through the Bastar Pandum festival, Chhattisgarh not only preserved tribal culture, folk arts and traditions, but also provided them with the National Forum. The event was attended by 1,743 cultural parties and 47,000 participants of 1,885 gram panchayats of 32 development blocks of 7 districts. Decorated with various colors like folk dances, song-music, haat-market, dish competitions, this festival became a symbol of unity, identity and development of Bastar, connecting from the elderly to the youth. An incentive amount of Rs 2.4 crore was also provided by the government. This event in Naxal -affected areas has aroused new consciousness of positive future through celebration and sports.
Among the states who got the opportunity to present their plans in the meeting, the ‘Bastar model’ of Chhattisgarh was very effective. This unique mail of participation, culture and development impressed everyone. It was suggested in the meeting that such models based on public participation and cultural engagement can also be adopted in other states. Chief Ministers of other states including Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, describing these initiatives as exemplary, suggested that such innovations, which are connected to the roots of the society and decide the direction of development, should be expanded. The way the ‘Bastar model’ of Chhattisgarh was appreciated in the meeting of the Chief Minister’s Council, it made it clear how a strong foundation of changes in distance and challenging areas can be laid by the coordination of public participation, cultural renaissance and development.
