Chief Minister interacts with 36 fellows of the second batch of the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Fellowship Programme

Raipur October 9, 2026/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai held an interactive session with the second batch of the Chief Minister Good Governance Fellowship at his residence office here on Friday, urging the young fellows to leverage their knowledge, skills, and innovative ideas to bring about tangible positive changes in the lives of citizens.

Addressing the fellows, Chief Minister said that youth power is the true strength of the nation and active participation of the youth is vital to realising the vision of both ‘Viksit Chhattisgarh’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’. When young people channel their education, energy, talent, and fresh perspectives toward public welfare and societal development, it lays the groundwork for major transformative change. Clear goals, sustained hard work, and the conscientious execution of every responsibility not only ensure success but also bring profound self-satisfaction.

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During the interaction, the Chief Minister answered a wide range of questions from the participants and reflected on his personal and public journey, sharing experiences spanning his student days, early struggles, family responsibilities, and dedicated years in public service. The fellows engaged the Chief Minister on his vision and expectations for the fellowship programme, good governance, education, employment generation, investment, the adoption of modern technology, and the decisive role of the youth in the state’s overall progress. Answering each query, Shri Sai advised the fellows not to view the fellowship merely as an opportunity to understand government processes, but as a platform to actively contribute toward improving governance and public delivery.

Youth play decisive role in realizing ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has resolved to make India a developed nation by 2047, and Chhattisgarh is actively aligning its development path with this national goal. Stating that India is making rapid progress across diverse sectors and establishing a formidable global presence, he said that the youth will play a decisive role in accelerating this transformative journey.

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Shri Sai urged the fellows under the Chief Minister Good Governance Fellowship to continuously hone their skills, bring forward innovative ideas, and work closely with the administration to deliver practical solutions to public issues. He said that the fellowship provides an invaluable platform for youth from varied academic backgrounds to learn, gain governance experience, and channel their talent toward the state’s holistic growth.

Emphasizing the importance of grassroots delivery, the Chief Minister said that while working in the districts, understanding local dynamics and the actual needs of the people will be paramount. He directed the fellows to establish seamless coordination with line departments and submit actionable suggestions grounded in data, concrete evidence, and field experience to improve public delivery and enhance the implementation of government schemes.

Education key to progress, Chhattisgarh now home to premier institutions

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Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that education is the fundamental cornerstone of development, urging youth to channel the knowledge and experience gained during their studies toward the progress of society and the state.

Reflecting on his student days, the Chief Minister said that educational facilities in rural areas were severely limited during that era. He shared that he had to travel nearly six kilometres from his native village of Bagiya to an adjacent village merely to appear for his Class 5 board examinations. Describing the basic infrastructure of the time, he said that schools functioned in mud structures and children routinely had to carry mats or jute sacks from home to sit on.

Contrasting past hardships with the state’s current educational landscape, the Chief Minister said that circumstances have undergone a sea change. Chhattisgarh is now home to premier national-level institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU). Students in government schools are being provided textbooks, uniforms, and mid-day meals. Talented students are receiving quality schooling and competitive examination coaching through Prayas Residential Schools, while the state provides free boarding and lodging facilities at the Tribal Youth Hostel in New Delhi for youth preparing for competitive examinations. In addition, the State Government is extending dedicated educational assistance to the children of registered labourers.

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Employment-oriented skills essential alongside formal education

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that employment-oriented skills alongside formal education are essential for the youth, emphasizing that equipping young people to meet the evolving demands of modern industry and the changing economy remains a top priority of the State Government. Skill development training is being actively imparted through Livelihood Colleges across districts, while 30 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state are being upgraded and modernized to align with contemporary industrial requirements.

Highlighting recruitment initiatives, the Chief Minister said that over the past two and a half years, more than 700 job fairs (Rojgar Melas) have been organised across the state, securing employment for nearly 24,000 youths. He added that in the recently held two-day state-level job fair in Raipur, more than 95 employers participated, resulting in employment opportunities for approximately 5,000 youth. The government is committed to ensuring that youth access quality career opportunities within Chhattisgarh proportionate with their talent and skill sets, while encouraging them to transition from job seekers into employment-generating entrepreneurs.

New Industrial Policy prioritizes local employment and entrepreneurship

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that the state’s New Industrial Policy accords top priority to generating employment and promoting entrepreneurship among local youth, with dedicated incentives provided to encourage women entrepreneurs as well as those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to set up industrial ventures. The objective goes beyond merely securing investment proposals to translating them into concrete projects and actual job opportunities. The implementation of signed investment agreements is being reviewed continuously to ensure swift execution on the ground.

Referring to his recent official visit to Singapore, Shri Sai said that during meetings with industry leaders and business delegates, Chhattisgarh’s immense investment potential was presented prominently. Pointing to the state’s abundant mineral reserves, diverse forest produce, and strong industrial foundation, he said these strengths are poised to give fresh momentum to state growth, adding that incoming investments in sunrise sectors such as semiconductors and textiles will unlock significant new employment avenues for the youth.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the proposed development of a Medi-City spanning nearly 100 acres in Nava Raipur, designed to house hospital facilities with an aggregate capacity of 5,000 beds. Shri Sai said that flagship healthcare infrastructure projects of this scale will not only drastically expand tertiary medical services across Chhattisgarh but also catalyze substantial employment generation and broader economic activity.

AI Mission to equip youth for future technologies

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that equipping the state’s youth with modern technical expertise is essential to meet future demands, pointing out that a budgetary provision of Rs 500 crore has been made for the state’s AI Mission. Under the initiative, the state aims to impart Artificial Intelligence education to six lakh students and train approximately 1,500 government officers and employees. He said technology is rapidly transforming the world, and the state government is working to prepare the youth of Chhattisgarh not merely as participants in this shift, but as leaders.

Chief Minister shares personal journey of early struggle and responsibility with fellows

Responding to a query from the young fellows about his life’s inspirations, the Chief Minister recalled his early years of hardship. He shared that following the untimely demise of his father when he was just ten years old, the responsibility of the family fell on his shoulders. Being the eldest among four brothers, he had to take care of his mother, grandmother, and younger brothers while shouldering the family’s agricultural duties, which included ploughing fields with bullocks and handling strenuous farm labour. These demanding circumstances taught him the values of hard work, accountability, and resilience at an early age.

The Chief Minister said he had never imagined even becoming a village Sarpanch. After being elected unopposed as Sarpanch, his journey in public service progressed to serving as an MLA, Member of Parliament, and Union Minister of State, adding that he consistently strove to discharge every entrusted responsibility with absolute sincerity and honesty.

Remembering the late Shri Dilip Singh Judeo, the Chief Minister described his patience, simplicity, and warmth as enduring sources of personal inspiration. Shri Sai noted that remaining connected to the grassroots, sharing in the joys and sorrows of citizens, and staying constantly accessible to address their grievances have formed the bedrock of his public life.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai urged the fellows to discharge whatever responsibilities they are assigned with complete dedication and integrity, keeping public welfare at the core of their work. He said such an approach not only brings respect and personal fulfilment, but also contributes to the greater good of society, the state, and the nation.

36 young fellows to study ground-level governance and scheme implementation

Outlining the roadmap of the Chief Minister Good Governance Fellowship, Secretary to the Chief Minister and Secretary for the Department of Good Governance and Convergence Shri Rahul Bhagat said that 36 youth selected for the second batch represent diverse academic backgrounds, including engineering, science, management, mathematics, commerce, and economics, with some fellows actively running their own startups.

He added that the comprehensive two-year fellowship programme comprises five months of academic study and training alongside 19 months of intensive field experience. Following an initial three-month training module at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, the fellows will work directly with district administrations to understand grassroots scheme implementation, administrative procedures, and the day-to-day delivery of public services.

He also encouraged the fellows to study the state’s long-term vision document, ‘Anjor Chhattisgarh 2047’, and articulate their ideas and aspirations for building the Chhattisgarh of their dreams.

Young fellows interact with the Chief Minister

During the interactive session, the youth fellows shared their queries, academic backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations to contribute to the state’s development with Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai.

Sushri Neelima Bhardwaj from Raipur asked the Chief Minister about his expectations from the fellowship participants. Another fellow, Sushri Khushi, conveyed gratitude on behalf of all participants for the opportunity, saying that working in the districts would provide vital exposure to administration and the grassroots execution of government schemes. Shri Anshul from Jashpur shared details of his educational journey and his motivation for joining the fellowship, seeking the Chief Minister’s message for youths from Chhattisgarh pursuing studies outside the state.

The Chief Minister listened warmly to all the participants and inspired them to dedicate their knowledge, skills, and experience toward public service and the building of a developed Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Good Governance Fellowship is being conducted by the Department of Good Governance and Convergence in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur and Transform Rural India. For the second cohort, 36 youths were selected through the Common Admission Test (CAT) scores and the IIM selection process. The selected cohort includes youth from 14 districts across the state, including Dantewada, Bastar, and Jashpur.

Drawing on their training and field immersion, the fellows will support the monitoring of welfare schemes, policy analysis, inter-departmental coordination, and ongoing initiatives to streamline public service delivery. The three-day orientation and training programme for the second batch featured dedicated sessions on the state’s administrative machinery, good governance priorities, the Public Service Guarantee framework, stakeholder mapping, and field operations.

The event was attended by the Director of IIM Raipur Professor Shri Sanjeev Prashar, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Good Governance and Convergence Shri Suraj Sahu, and other departmental officers.