Raipur, August 7, 2025: In a meeting of the Scheduled Caste Development Authority held today at the District Panchayat auditorium in Janjgir-Champa district, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai approved the increase of the Authority’s budget from ₹50 crore to ₹75 crore. The Chief Minister instructed all Collectors to take the projects approved under the Authority’s fund seriously and ensure their completion within the stipulated time frame with high quality. He also announced that the Authority’s meeting will now be held on time every year, and the implementation of works will be thoroughly reviewed.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s full commitment to the social, cultural, and economic upliftment of the Scheduled Caste community in line with the spirit of the Constitution. He said that while safeguarding the constitutional rights bestowed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the state is embracing the message of Guru Ghasidas Ji — “All humans are equal” — to strengthen the sense of respect and equality in society. Ensuring the benefits of government schemes reach the last person in society is the government’s top priority, he stated.
CM Sai mentioned that Janjgir-Champa was specifically chosen for this meeting as it is a Scheduled Caste-dominated district. With Chhattisgarh entering its 25th year of formation, he stressed that it is time to set new benchmarks in development.
Referring to the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chief Minister said that development work in the state has progressed accordingly, and the SC Development Authority is an effective medium for the comprehensive development of the Scheduled Caste society.
He made several key announcements during the meeting:
₹2 crore for the development of Giroudpuri Dham,
₹50 lakh for coaching facilities for students of Scheduled Castes,
Financial support for pilot training for 5 SC youth every year,
Approval for the use of wood along with cement in the construction of Joda Jaitkham,
Increase in seats to 200 at the Tribal Youth Hostel in Delhi, encouraging students to utilize it for competitive exam preparation,
Proposal to build “Nalanda Campuses” in all district headquarters in the near future.
Expressing concern over the long-pending projects under the Authority’s fund, the CM said that although these projects may involve small amounts, their social significance is immense. Delays in their completion are worrisome, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also addressed the meeting, stating that under CM Sai’s leadership, consistent efforts are being made for the upliftment of the SC community. He gave clear directions to complete all pending projects promptly and reiterated the commitment to inclusive development in Chhattisgarh.
Authority Vice-Chairman Guru Khushwant Saheb expressed gratitude for the initiatives taken under the Chief Minister’s leadership. He placed several demands, including ropeway construction at Giroudpuri Dham, expansion of basic facilities during the annual fair, bathing and accommodation arrangements near Jok River, use of wood in Joda Jaitkham, conservation and beautification of the historic pond at Baradera Dham, and provision of smart classrooms for students. He thanked the government for budget enhancement and acceptance of these demands.
The meeting also involved detailed discussions on the structure and working scope of the Authority, review of approved works, budget allocations, and progress on projects sanctioned between FY 2020 and 2025. Based on proposals from local representatives and members, development and beneficiary-centric works worth over ₹49 crore were approved.
Prominent attendees included Deputy CM Arun Sao, Vice-Chairman Guru Khushwant Saheb, Ministers Dayal Das Baghel, Lakhan Lal Dewangan, Laxmi Rajwade, Tankram Verma, MP Kamlesh Jangde, MLAs Punnulal Mohle, Domanlal Korsewada, Dilip Lahariya, Sheshraj Harvansh, Utri Ganpat Jangde, Kavita Pran Lahare, and Harshita Swami Baghel. Commissioners and IGs of Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg divisions, along with Collectors of 17 districts, were also present.
It is notable that the SC Development Authority’s jurisdiction includes the entire state, focusing on 17 SC-majority districts such as Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Bilaspur, Mungeli, Raipur, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariaband, Raigarh, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Durg, Bemetara, Balod, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh, and other districts with over 25% SC population.
Other notable attendees included Janjgir-Champa Zila Panchayat President Satyalata Anand Miri, Rajesh Suryavanshi (Bilaspur), Gaurishankar Kashyap (Gariaband), Additional Chief Secretary Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Sonmoni Bora, Secretaries P. Dayanand and Basav Raju, DGP Arun Dev Gautam, Departmental Secretary Shahla Nigar, Rohit Yadav, Kamalpreet Singh, Reena Babasaheb Kangale, R. Prasanna, Shami Abidi, and several other senior officials.
