Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Launches ‘Meri Beti–Mera Abhiman’ Campaign
Special Campaign to Run from August 15 to January 26; Cremation Grounds in Every Village and Toilets for Girls in Government Schools
Development Works to Be Approved by Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas
Raipur, August 6, 2026/
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday launched the statewide ‘Meri Beti–Mera Abhiman’ campaign under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) during a press conference at Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur. He announced that the special campaign will be conducted from August 15, 2026, to January 26, 2027, with a focus on strengthening the dignity of daughters, improving rural sanitation, enhancing social infrastructure, and promoting water conservation.
As part of the campaign, toilets for girls will be constructed in all government schools in rural areas, while cremation grounds with waiting sheds will be developed in every village. The Chief Minister said 6,671 girls’ toilets will be built at a cost of Rs. 286.85 crore, with each unit costing Rs. 4.30 lakh. Similarly, cremation grounds with waiting sheds will be constructed in 6,524 villages at a cost of Rs. 391.44 crore. In contrast, an additional 549 cremation grounds will be developed at a cost of Rs. 18.22 crore.
Giving priority to water conservation, Shri Sai announced that 10,027 closed or defunct borewells across the state will be fitted with sand filters and recharge structures at a cost of Rs. 52.14 crore. He said these structures will help improve groundwater recharge, conserve rainwater, and reduce drinking water shortages in rural areas. He directed officials to approve all priority works and begin implementation without delay.
The Chief Minister said the VB-G RAM G Yojana, which came into effect across the country on July 1, 2026, is the largest rural employment and development initiative undertaken so far. Under the scheme, all development works will be selected with the approval of Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas. The daily wage rate has been increased to Rs. 300. He said the scheme would play a key role in realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
He informed that Chhattisgarh will receive nearly Rs. 6,855 crore under MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G during the current financial year, representing the largest financial investment in rural employment and infrastructure in the state’s history. The Government of India has already released the first instalment of over Rs. 1,538 crore.
Shri Sai said the scheme has been designed to balance the interests of both farmers and workers. To ensure adequate labour availability during agricultural operations, works under the scheme can be suspended for up to 60 days in a year, preventing disruption to farming activities while safeguarding employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister said 318 categories of development works have been included under four major sectors—107 water conservation and augmentation works, 90 rural infrastructure works, 86 livelihood promotion works, and 35 climate adaptation and disaster management works. Water conservation activities will include ponds, check dams, recharge structures, irrigation expansion, soil conservation, and plantation. At the same time, rural infrastructure works will cover roads, culverts, Panchayat buildings, Anganwadi centres, additional classrooms, libraries, laboratories, kitchen sheds, waste management systems, cremation grounds, and veterinary hospitals.
He said the livelihood component will strengthen infrastructure for rural markets, agricultural produce storage, cold storage, dairy farming, fisheries, and animal husbandry. Under climate adaptation and disaster management, priority will be given to flood and cyclone shelters, drainage systems, embankments, forest fire prevention, and post-disaster reconstruction.
Highlighting the state’s preparedness, Shri Sai said Chhattisgarh has emerged as a national leader in implementing the scheme. The state ranks first in the country with 98 per cent e-KYC completion of workers and second with 99 per cent geo-tagging of assets. It has also taken the lead in preparing GIS-based Gram Panchayat work plans through the Yuktdhara portal.
The Chief Minister said water conservation has been accorded the highest priority under the scheme, with expenditure on such works to be ensured according to local water availability. He added that the State Government’s ‘Mor Gaon–Mor Pani’ campaign would receive fresh momentum through the initiative.
Shri Sai informed that Rs. 5,591.42 crore has been earmarked for VB-G RAM G during the financial year 2026–27, while Rs. 1,264 crore has already been spent during the first quarter from April to June 2026, significantly accelerating rural development works.
He said the objective of the scheme extends beyond employment generation to strengthening water conservation, sanitation, education, rural infrastructure, and livelihoods for building self-reliant villages. Emphasising transparency and accountability, he said every work will be approved by the Gram Sabha and implemented through digital monitoring, timely wage payments, quality control, and social audits.
Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Richa Sharma, VB-G RAM G Commissioner Shri Taran Prakash Sinha, senior officials, and a large number of journalists were present at the press conference.
