Naxal-hit areas see change as President addresses Raipur youth
Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected regions are witnessing a visible transformation, President Droupadi Murmu said in Raipur, as she urged young people to aim high and dedicate their efforts to the nation's progress.
Speaking at the Sardar Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium on Thursday, the President said areas that were once shadowed by terror are now seeing the light of development. Her address was part of the 'Seva Samman Parv evam Yuva Prabodhan' programme organised on the occasion of Nuakhai Johar.
Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the event, along with a large gathering of public representatives, youth, women and people from many sections of society.
A message of lifelong learning
The President asked young people to remain students for life. She urged them to read books, raise questions, grasp new ideas and keep upgrading their knowledge and skills. Success and failure, she said, are both part of the journey, and setbacks should lead to fresh determination.
She advised youth to blend knowledge with humility, ambition with morality and achievement with a spirit of service. Their talent, she said, should solve real problems, and their success should become a means of positive social change.
Nation-building, she observed, depends on the honest and sincere efforts of millions of ordinary citizens. Youth must uphold integrity, dedication and compassion in all they do.
Women at the centre of progress
President Murmu said equal participation of women is indispensable for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047. Without empowering half the population, she said, the nation cannot move forward to its full capacity.
She called on women to take a larger part in social and national endeavours. She also urged young men and others to offer women an environment free from barriers, so that they can fulfil their aspirations.
Respect for women, she emphasised, should be reflected in thinking, conduct and daily behaviour, not merely in speech.
Nuakhai and the spirit of gratitude
Greeting people on Nuakhai, the President described it as a celebration of social unity, goodwill and cherished traditions rather than just a cultural event. It keeps people connected with their roots and encourages them to carry forward their heritage.
Grain, she said, represents far more than food. It reflects the hard work of farmers, the generosity of the earth and the gifts of nature. Respecting farmers and protecting natural resources is a collective duty.
Changes in Naxal-affected areas
President Murmu expressed satisfaction with the changes taking place in Chhattisgarh. She credited the efforts of the central and state governments, along with the strong resolve of young people, for drawing many from the path of Naxalism into the mainstream.
This shift, she noted, is creating positive changes in the lives of youth and their families and giving momentum to development in the state and the nation.
CM hails President's inspiring journey
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed and felicitated the President on behalf of Chhattisgarh's people. He said her life of struggle, simplicity, service, education and determination is an inspiring example.
He noted that her rise from a small village in Odisha to the country's highest constitutional post is especially inspiring for daughters, youth and residents of tribal and rural regions. He also highlighted the long-standing social and cultural bonds between Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
State's youth-focused initiatives
Mr Sai said the state government is working to expand education, employment, skill development, innovation and entrepreneurship for youth. Five new medical colleges have started in Geedam, Kunkuri, Janjgir-Champa, Manendragarh and Kawardha, while a National Skill Training Institute is coming up in Nava Raipur to train about 4,000 youth every year.
The state AI Mission targets training six lakh students in artificial intelligence. A Rs 100 crore startup fund has been created to support youth innovation, and the new industrial policy aims to encourage jobs and enterprise. Work has also begun toward a Forensic University Campus, NIFT and NIELIT.
For Agniveers who complete four years of military service, the state has decided on 10 per cent reservation in direct recruitment for police constable, forest guard and jail warder posts.
Record participation in blood donation
During the programme, the Chief Minister announced that 2,548 people voluntarily donated blood under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, including 1,188 women. He called blood donation a great humanitarian service and an example of the state's social participation and women's strength.
Governor Ramen Deka described Nuakhai as a festival of farming culture and social cooperation and urged youth to avoid drugs and distractions while contributing to nation-building.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Revenue Minister Tankaram Verma, Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel, Technical Education Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma, MLA Purandar Mishra and other dignitaries.