Raipur: During his visit to Jashpur today, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai participated in the sacred consecration ceremony of the Shri Neelkantheshwar Mahadev Temple in Sirimkela village of the Duldula development block. He performed the rituals and prayed to Lord Mahadev for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of all Chhattisgarh residents. He described this spiritual event, held a day before the sacred festival of Mahashivratri, as a symbol of devotion, faith, and cultural pride. Announcing the construction of a community hall in Sirimkela village, Chief Minister Sai said that this would provide a strong foundation for local citizens to organize social, cultural, and family events.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that tomorrow we will celebrate the sacred festival of Mahashivratri, and he extends his heartfelt greetings to all. He expressed his spiritual peace and joy at being among devotees and family members in Sirimkela. In this unique event of devotion and faith, he said that the state government, while restoring the eternal tradition, is providing religious pilgrimages to thousands of devotees through the Ayodhya Dham Darshan Yojana and the Chief Minister's Tirtha Darshan Yojana. Striving to follow in the footsteps of Shravan Kumar, more than 42,000 pilgrims from the state have been given darshan of Shri Ram Lalla so far.He said that after a long wait of 500 years, the grand temple of Shri Ram Lalla has been completed in Ayodhya Dham, and under the able leadership of our illustrious Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the flag is flying high on the summit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple today. The faith of every Ram devotee remained lit for 500 years—it was a yagya whose flame never wavered. We are all mere instruments, able to see our nephew Ram in his grand temple and enable devotees to see him.
The Chief Minister said that he feels extremely fortunate to have the darshan of Neelkantheshwar Mahadev today. The darshan of Neelkanth on the day of Dussehra is considered extremely auspicious, and today, after the Pran-Pratishtha, it is a matter of pride for all of us to have the benefit of continuous darshan here. He said that Madheshwar Mahadev is located in Jashpur, which, according to popular belief, is considered Asia's largest natural Shivalinga. Devotion has special significance in the Sanatan tradition, and the state government respects devotees. Every year during the month of Sawan, devotees are showered with flowers at the Bhoramdev Temple to express their faith.
The Chief Minister further stated that the grand Rajim Kumbh Mela is currently being held at the Rajim Triveni Sangam, known as the Prayag of Chhattisgarh, where a remarkable confluence of faith and culture is being witnessed. He urged devotees to visit Lord Kuleshwarnath Mahadev on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. He stated that the state government is continuously striving to preserve cultural and religious heritage. The prestige of the Rajim Kumbh Mela has been restored, the historic Bastar Dussehra is recognized nationally and internationally, and continuous work is being done to develop the five Shakti Peethas of Chhattisgarh through an action plan.
The Chief Minister also delivered a message of environmental protection and enhancement by planting a sapling in the temple premises. He emphasized that spirituality and nature conservation are complementary to each other. At the conclusion of the program, he said that during this holy period of Mahashivratri, may the blessings of Neelkantheshwar Mahadev remain upon all of us, may new streams of happiness, peace, prosperity and development flow in the state and may Chhattisgarh continue to progress with spiritual consciousness and cultural splendor – this is his heartfelt wish.
On this occasion, Vice President of Surguja Tribal Development Authority and Pathalgaon MLA Smt. Gomti Sai, Mahasamund MLA Shri Yogeshwar Raju Sinha, former Rajya Sabha MP Shri Ranvijay Singh Judev, District Panchayat Vice President Shri Shaurya Pratap Singh Judev, Municipal Council Vice President Shri Yash Pratap Singh Judev, District Panchayat President Smt. Sushila Sai, Shri Krishna Rai, Shri Pawan Sai, Shri Bharat Singh, Shri Arvind Prasad Sai, Shri Kapil Dev Sai, Surguja IG Shri Deepak Kumar Jha, Collector Shri Rohit Vyas, SSP Dr. Lal Umed Singh, Divisional Forest Officer Shri Shashi Kumar and members of the Mahadev Temple Committee were present in large numbers.

Raipur : Governor Shri Ramen Deka paid a courtesy call on Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla during his visit to New Delhi today.

Jashpurnagar . In a joint operation by the officers and employees of the Jashpur Forest Division along with the officers and employees of the Gumla Forest Division, an accused involved in the illegal purchase and sale of pangolin scales (bark) was arrested on February 11.

According to information received from the department, a joint team conducted a planned operation based on confidential information. During the operation, the accused, a resident of Ranpur village, Narayanpur police station, Jashpur, was caught illegally trading pangolin scales. Pangolin scales were recovered from the accused's possession.

Pangolins are a rare and protected species of wildlife, listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Hunting, trading, or illegally transporting wildlife in this category carries severe penalties. A forest offense case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Act, and he has been duly arrested. A detailed investigation is underway, and a search is underway for other individuals involved in this illegal network.

The Forest Department has appealed to the public to cooperate in wildlife conservation and to immediately report any illegal activity to the nearest forest office. Wildlife conservation is our collective responsibility.

Jashpurnagar : The Government of India is running a massive mass drug administration campaign in the endemic districts of the country with the aim of eliminating filariasis (elephantiasis) by 2027.

In this connection, under the leadership of Chief Medical and Health Officer and District Programme Manager, on 10 February 2026, the mass drug administration programme under the National Filaria Eradication Programme was launched at the district level in Saraswati Shishu Mandir Higher Secondary School, Jashpur and all the development blocks.

A campaign is being run considering the total population of 990800 of Jashpur district as the target population for mass drug administration. In which, in the first phase, from February 10 to February 12, 2026, the Health Department will administer the medicine through a total of 3143 booths in all the development blocks of Jashpur district. And from February 13 to February 25, 2026, the Health Department team and Asha workers will go door to door and administer free anti-filariasis medicines like tablets- DEC, Albendazole and Ivermectin to all people above 2 years of age, based on their age and height (except pregnant women and serious patients).

Regarding filariasis, the department said that filariasis is an infectious disease caused by mosquitoes in dirty water, which is commonly known as elephantiasis. Its symptoms are usually not visible, and if the infection occurs over a long period, symptoms like fever, pain and swelling in hands and feet, and pain and swelling in or around the genitals of men appear. On taking medicine for filariasis, generally, minor reactions like headache, fever, vomiting and rashes on the body may occur as a reaction to the parasites. There is no need to panic about this. But if the symptoms become serious, one should immediately consult a doctor and get proper advice and treatment.

A single case of filariasis (elephantiasis) can cause lifelong problems. The only treatment for this condition is to take MDA (Medical Diagnosis) medication, which has no side effects. Filariasis is prevalent in all the development blocks of our district, spread by mosquitoes and can be prevented. Everyone is requested to take the filariasis medication from the Mitanin in their village.

Raipur - Chhattisgarh's Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade paid a courtesy call to Union Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi in ​​New Delhi and discussed in detail the effective implementation of the women and child development schemes being run in the state and the future action plan.

Minister Smt. Rajwade informed on this occasion that the Chhattisgarh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, has decided to celebrate the year 2026 as the "Mahatari Gaurav Varsh." The objective of this initiative is to elevate the respect, safety, health, and economic independence of mothers and sisters to new heights. The state government is considering women's empowerment as the pivot of development and is making schemes more effective.

The meeting witnessed positive and result-oriented discussions on topics such as empowerment of women, progress of the nutrition campaign, strengthening of child protection services, upgrading Anganwadi systems and better implementation of centrally sponsored schemes. Minister Smt. Rajwade shared information about innovations being implemented in Chhattisgarh, efforts being made at the grassroots level and steps taken to ensure the schemes reach the beneficiaries.

Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi provided guidance regarding effective implementation of schemes, strengthening monitoring mechanisms and ensuring 100% reach of benefits to eligible beneficiaries. She described the coordinated efforts of the Centre and the State as extremely important for women and child welfare. Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade said that with the support and guidance of the Central Government, schemes related to women and child development in Chhattisgarh will be made more robust, transparent and result-oriented. The good governance government is committed to the all-round development of women power.

Raipur . Cultivation of Brahmi is a new and reliable source of income for farmers. It is a major medicinal plant, which is used to enhance memory, mental peace and in Ayurveda, due to which it is in great demand in the market. It is being encouraged by institutions like Chhattisgarh Medicinal Plant Board, and in some places, buy back facility is also available, due to which farmers are getting direct benefit. Due to the efforts of Chhattisgarh Tribal, Local Health Tradition and Medicinal Plant Board, farmers of the state are now rapidly moving towards medicinal crops along with traditional paddy cultivation. Especially Brahmi cultivation has emerged as a new and reliable source of income for farmers.

Farmers are being encouraged to cultivate Brahmi under the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Cultivation Scheme run by the Board. Brahmi is a medicinal crop with low costs and high profits. Once planted, it can be harvested every three months for three to four years. Brahmi is used to enhance memory, improve mental health, and manufacture neurological medications and beauty products, which maintains its steady demand in the market. While paddy cultivation has high costs per acre and limited profits, Brahmi cultivation costs approximately 21,000 rupees annually. With a production of approximately 30 quintals per year, farmers earn approximately 150,000 rupees. Thus, farmers are earning a net profit of approximately 120,000 rupees. This is why farmers are now adopting Brahmi cultivation as a profitable option.

The Board is providing Brahmi planting material to farmers free of charge, further reducing their initial costs. Furthermore, to address the problem of selling their produce, pre-arranged purchase contracts have been ensured, eliminating market concerns. The climate and soil of Chhattisgarh are highly suitable for Brahmi cultivation. It grows easily even in humid and waterlogged areas, where other crops are at risk of damage. For this reason, farmers are gradually moving towards alternative farming methods alongside paddy. Currently, approximately 36 farmers in Raipur and Dhamtari districts are successfully cultivating Brahmi on 15 acres of land, serving as an inspiration for other farmers.

Mr. Vikas Markam, Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Tribal, Local Health Traditions and Medicinal Plants Board, commended the farmers' initiative, stating that, under the guidance of Forest Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap and with continued efforts, medicinal plant cultivation is becoming an effective means of strengthening the rural economy and increasing farmers' income. He explained that the Board is working towards making farmers self-reliant by providing them technical guidance, planting materials, and marketing support. As medicinal plant cultivation gains new recognition in the state, the demand for Brahmi and other medicinal plants produced in Chhattisgarh will increase not only in the country but also abroad, positioning the state as a leader in medicinal farming. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Forest Department and the Board, Chhattisgarh farmers are now approaching farming with a new mindset. Brahmi cultivation is not only increasing their income but also showing them a new path to self-reliance.

Raipur . The district-level Surguja Olympics concluded in Balrampur under the chief patronage of Shri Ramvichar Netam, Minister of Tribal Development, Agricultural Development and Farmers Welfare. Organized by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department from February 10th to 12th at the sports ground of Swami Atmanand Hindi Medium School in Balrampur, the three-day event witnessed a remarkable blend of enthusiasm, skill, and energy among sports talent.

The Surguja Olympics, being organised for the first time in the state, is providing a good platform to rural and urban players to display their abilities and sports skills. Tribal Development Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam, who reached Balrampur for the closing ceremony of its district level event, reached among the players and encouraged them. He reached the venue of the girls' tug of war competition being held between the teams of Shankargarh and Balrampur and boosted their morale by introducing himself to the participants. He also watched the archery competition and encouraged the players by trying his hand at archery himself. He presented shields and medals to the winning participants.

In his address at the conclusion of the district-level Surguja Olympics, Mr. Netam said that the well-planned and systematic organization of the Surguja Olympics, from the development block to the district level, is commendable. The Surguja Olympics is becoming a powerful platform for honing sports talent. He underscored the importance of this opportunity, especially for the youth of tribal areas, saying that such events allow young people to showcase their talents, build self-confidence, and provide direction for progress. He encouraged the participating athletes to practice regularly and excel at the divisional and state levels.

Balrampur Collector Mr. Rajendra Katara, Superintendent of Police Mr. Vaibhav Banker, CEO of Zila Panchayat Mrs. Nayantara Singh Tomar, Divisional Forest Officer Mr. Alok Vajpayee, Member of Backward Class Commission Mr. Krishna Gupta, President of Red Cross Society Mr. Omprakash Jaiswal, Municipal Council President Mr. Lodhiram Ekka, Vice President Mr. Dilip Soni, District Education Officer Mr. M.R. Yadav and District Sports Officer Mr. Marcus Kujur along with officers of the concerned departments, public representatives, players and sports lovers were present in large numbers at the closing ceremony.

In Surguja Olympics, players from all 32 development blocks of Surguja division are showcasing their sports skills in 12 games. These include 5 individual events and 7 team games. Individual events include athletics (100, 200, 400 meter race, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, 400 meter relay), archery (Indian round), badminton, wrestling and karate. Team games include football, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, tug of war and basketball. All the competitions are being organised in junior category (14 to 17 years, boys/girls) and senior category (above 18 years, men/women).

Raipur . Under the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana, the dream of a pucca house has come true for Mr. Jagdish Baiga of Andhiyarkhoh Gram Panchayat, Gaurela Block. He was approved for a pucca house in the year 2023-24. Prior to the scheme, Jagdish Baiga and his family lived in a kutcha house. While living in the kutcha house, they were constantly threatened by wild insects, snakes, and scorpions. During the rainy season, the family faced significant difficulties due to leaking roofs. Due to limited income, building a pucca house was merely a dream for them. The construction of a house approved under the government's ambitious Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana has brought a major change in Jagdish Baiga's life. Now, Jagdish and his family live safely and with dignity in a pucca house. PM Janman Awas Yojana is proving to be a powerful means of improving the quality of life for needy families like Jagdish Baiga.

Raipur . Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said on Friday that 532 Naxalites have been killed, 2004 arrested and 2,700 have surrendered in the state since January 2024. He also said that the government is committed to eliminating the Maoist threat by March 31. Addressing a press conference organised to highlight the achievements of the Home Department, Sharma also said that continuous security operations and rehabilitation efforts are yielding significant results in the fight against Naxalism. He said that the government's resolve against Naxalism is clear. We are working with full force to completely eradicate Naxalism from Chhattisgarh by March 31, 2026.

Sharma said security forces have recovered nearly 1,100 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, INSAS rifles, self-loading rifles, light machine guns, mortars, and pistols, since January 2024. Six Politburo and Central Committee members of the Maoist organization have been killed, while two have surrendered. A total of 17 Special Regional Committee members were killed, seven surrendered, and one was arrested during this period. Sharma said he had long awaited the day when the number of surrenders would exceed the number of arrests. He described the current trend as satisfactory.

Seven rehabilitation centers are operational in the state. So far, approximately 1,700 former Naxalites, including 410 women, have completed training in various skills at these centers, while 232 are currently undergoing training. All surrendered Naxalites are provided with welcome kits, including mobile phones, to help them reintegrate into society. Sharma further stated that Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and Ayushman cards are being prepared for surrendered militants, and awareness campaigns are being organized in Raipur. The Deputy Chief Minister stated that appeals for surrender are being broadcast through radio stations in Jagdalpur, Saraipali, and neighboring states. He stated that the government's goal is to bring development to every village in Bastar, including facilities such as schools, electricity, drinking water, hospitals, and Anganwadis, and to ensure that the Constitution is followed in every corner of the region.

Raipur - Assistant Drug Controller Sanjay Kumar Netam has been suspended for negligence and violation of conduct rules in a serious case involving counterfeit drugs. Netam allegedly held a public meeting with accused Khemraj Bani and his wife during office hours and showed them files related to the case. During the suspension period, he cannot leave headquarters and will be paid a subsistence allowance. 

00 MNREGA initiative proved to be a boon for the handicapped Andharu Baiga of the special backward tribe Baiga community
Raipur. The objective of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is to provide employment to the villagers and to build permanent assets so that they can become self-reliant and conduct economic activities and besides taking care of their families, can also strengthen the village economy. To fulfil this objective, the livelihood pond being constructed under MNREGA for the handicapped beneficiary of the special backward tribe, Mr. Andharu Baiga, in village Kamarkhol under Gram Panchayat Lokhan of Janpad Panchayat Pandariya, will prove to be a strong foundation for his bright future.

Raipur. Police on Wednesday arrested two absconding accused in the compensation scam under the Bharatmala project. The arrested accused include Shashikant Kurre (then Tehsildar, Abhanpur) and Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran (then Deputy Tehsildar, Gobra Navapara). They are accused of forging revenue records and perpetrating a ₹43 crore (approximately $430 million) scam. Police have achieved a major breakthrough in the multi-crore compensation scam under the Bharatmala project in Chhattisgarh. Tehsildar Shashikant Kurre and Naib Tehsildar Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran, who were absconding for a long time, have finally been arrested. These officials are accused of colluding with revenue officials and land mafias to cause losses worth crores to the government through falsified documents. Following the Supreme Court's rejection of their bail pleas, the Special Court issued a permanent warrant against them. Following their arrest in Raipur, they are being rigorously interrogated while on police remand, which is expected to yield many more shocking revelations related to this massive corruption syndicate. 

 Raipur - Under the Prime Minister's PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, rural and urban areas across the state are rapidly becoming illuminated. Mr. Manoj Vishwas, a resident of Silfili in Surajpur district, has become a successful beneficiary of the scheme, becoming an inspiration for others. By installing solar panels on his rooftop, Mr. Vishwas has not only achieved significant savings on his electricity bills but is also contributing to environmental protection through clean energy production. It is noteworthy that Surajpur district is receiving a large number of applications under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, reflecting the awareness and trust among the public. For the effective implementation of the scheme, 25 active vendors are operating in the district, ensuring a smooth process from application to solar rooftop installation. Inspired by the success of beneficiary Mr. Manoj Vishwas, other citizens are also joining the scheme. This scheme is becoming an effective public movement towards economic relief, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental protection.

7,315 farmers of the state benefited, direct purchase is being made from farmers at the rate of Rs 22,000 per tonne.  

Raipur - To achieve the goal of a self-reliant India in edible oil, oil palm cultivation is being continuously promoted in Chhattisgarh. To date, oil palm cultivation has been implemented on 10,796 hectares in the state, benefiting 7,315 farmers. The district administration is also working to increase the area by earmarking land for oil palm cultivation. In this regard, Director of Horticulture, Mr. Lokesh Kumar, inspected farmers' fields in Durg and Bemetara districts, reviewed the progress of the projects, and encouraged farmers to plant oil palm in larger areas. During the inspection, Director of Horticulture, Mr. Lokesh Kumar, observed the work being done under the National Horticulture Mission, Integrated Horticulture Development Program, and National Mission on Oil Palm. He issued necessary guidelines to officials and provided technical guidance to farmers. It is worth noting that oil palm cultivation has been underway in the state since 2012-13. Currently, approximately 10,796 hectares have been planted across all districts, benefiting 7,315 farmers. Approximately 1,394.88 tons of fresh fruit bunches have been produced so far. The Government of India has set a minimum price of ₹16,460.46 per ton for fresh fruit bunches, while in Chhattisgarh, direct purchases are being made from farmers at a rate of ₹22,000 per ton. Director Mr. Lokesh Kumar visited Mrs. Suniti Devi Madharia's one-hectare oil palm intercrop with tomatoes and Mr. Praveen Madharia's one-hectare oil palm intercrop with bananas in Dhaba village in Durg district. He shared information about subsidies and grants with the farmers. He then inspected oil palm, banana, mango, fencing, and intercrops planted in the fields of selected and benefited farmers in Parsadapar, Chikhala, and Rajpur in Durg district and Dongitarai village in Bemetara district. Director Mr. Lokesh Kumar gave detailed information to the farmers about the financial assistance available on oil palm saplings, fencing, tube wells, drip irrigation and intercrops under the scheme and the market arrangement for the produce. He said that oil palm cultivation is becoming a better option for increasing the income of the farmers. After inspecting the plug type seedling unit at the Government Seed Multiplication Project located at Rajpur, instructions were given to repair it immediately, so that quality saplings can be made available to the farmers in the coming season. 

Raipur . After a gap of nearly five years, the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has decided to increase high school and higher secondary examination fees. Students appearing for the 10th and 12th board examinations will now have to pay the increased fees.

Under the new system, the general examination fee has been increased from ₹460 to ₹800. The enrollment fee has also increased from ₹80 to ₹200. Additional subjects will now cost ₹250 instead of ₹110.

Opportunity exam fees have also been increased. The fee for the second main opportunity exam for one subject has been increased from Rs. 280 to Rs. 400, and the fee for the second main opportunity exam for two subjects has been increased from Rs. 340 to Rs. 600.

Apart from this, students appearing for examination under credit scheme for more than two subjects will now have to pay a fee of Rs 1000 instead of Rs 640.

According to board officials, this increase has been made to cover the costs of administering the exam, software, printing question papers, and other administrative expenses. Students and parents have been urged to pay their fees on time according to the new rates.

24,752 farmers benefited from agricultural equipment under various schemes