Governor Anusuiya Uikey unfurled the national flag on Republic Day at the main function at Police Parade Ground and took salute from the marching contingents.

Extending the Republic Day greetings to the people, the Governor said that after celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of the country’s independence, the country is celebrating the glorious 74th Republic Day and are moving towards its Amrit Mahotsav. She said that the success of the people is the republic’s strength. This is the day to put the constitution into action in the country, to run the country in accordance with the constitution, and to empower the general public with legal powers and rights. The era of prosperity and happiness will continue in Chhattisgarh. Naxal activities have also been restricted in State, and Naxalites have begun to return to social life. Work was done in all areas of State with new thinking for development, making it possible to move in the direction of excellence even with limited resources.

Uikey stated that the Chhattisgarh Government has taken significant initiatives on the issues of Jal-Jungle-Zameen and also taken steps related to employment, with the highest priority to make the people of State economically and socially capable.

Through Chhattisgarh Mahtari’s picture and statue, state song has rendered her glory, state gamchha, mati pujan tihar, and other initiative, the government has increased respect for its soil. Paddy procurement in State has increased from 56.88 lakh metric tonne to 98 lakh metric tonne in the last five years as a result of such efforts, and a target of 110 lakh metric tonnes has now been set.

Governor Uikey stated that the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’ was launched in Chhattisgarh to financially empower farmers who grow crops other than paddy and that Rs 16,442 crore has been disbursed in the last three years. As a favour, inputs are provided. The ‘Sichai Jal Kar Yojana’ has provided relief worth Rs 324 crore. In the last five years, interest-free agricultural loans have increased from Rs 3,546 crore to Rs 5,885 crore.

The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhumihin Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana’ provides financial assistance to families who are unable to find work from their traditional jobs throughout the year. In this way, over 4 lakh 66 thousand people have received assistance for their livelihoods worth approximately Rs 327 crore. Governor Uikey stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed appreciation for the work being done to promote millet in State, for which the state is grateful.

She further said that efforts were made to increase the means of employment in rural areas and there has been a new consciousness about the cultivation of cashew nuts, chilli-spices, fruits-flowers, grains with medicinal properties, milk, dairy, fish farming, animal husbandry and economic self-reliance is coming in the villages. For horticulture crops, cold storages have been established. Tea-Coffee Board has been formed and for the marketing of horticulture products, establishment of a fully equipped fruit-vegetable market has been started. The work of establishment of a fruit-vegetable market is in progress in Gandai and Kumhari, so that horticulture crops will get good

prices. ‘Community Seed Bank’ has been established to provide quality seeds locally. The Governor said that the beginning of providing justice to the tribals was done with the review of cancelled forest rights claims, return of land in Lohandiguda, withdrawal of lawsuits and increase in tendupatta collection remuneration. Fifty-five thousand individual forest rights lease have been given to forest dwellers. For effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 13 thousand 586 village level forest rights committees along with subdivision and district level committees have been constituted. The Governor also presented the awards in the function. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Ashok Juneja, Additional Chief Secretary Subrat Sahoo and others were present.