Heartfelt celebration of Raksha Bandhan at the Chief Minister's residence; mothers and sisters from various regions tied Rakhi to the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister said, "Respect, security, and economic empowerment of sisters are among the top priorities of our government
." Raipur.  The festival of Rakshabandhan was celebrated today at the Chief Minister's residence in an atmosphere of warmth, affection, and joy. Mothers and sisters from various walks of life tied a Rakhi on Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai's wrist and offered him their love and blessings. Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai warmly welcomed all the sisters, saying that their affection is priceless to him and that their blessings further strengthen his resolve to serve the state. Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said that Rakshabandhan is a sacred festival of unbreakable love, trust, and intimacy between brothers and sisters. By tying a Rakhi on her brother's wrist, a sister wishes for a happy and prosperous life, while the brother pledges to always stand by his sister's honor, safety, and happiness in her time and sorrow.

The Chief Minister said, "It is a day of great fortune for me that all of you sisters from different sections of society have come to the Chief Minister's residence to celebrate the holy festival of Rakshabandhan. Your love and blessings inspire me to work with even greater dedication for the welfare of the mothers and sisters of the state." At the event, Mrs. Sarla Dubey, wife of the late Colonel Ashok Kumar Dubey, tied a Rakhi to Chief Minister Mr. Sai. Recalling this intimate moment, the Chief Minister said that the late Colonel Ashok Kumar Dubey was the first soldier from Chhattisgarh to join the Army. It is a particularly emotional and proud moment for him to receive a Rakhi from his wife, Mrs. Dubey. In the programme, Savita Didi and Smriti Didi of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwari University, Mrs. Savitri Jaiswal, Padmashree Dr. Usha Barle, Chairperson of Chhattisgarh State Women Commission Mrs. Mamta Sahu, Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Film Development Corporation Ms. Mona Sen along with women journalists, sisters of self-help groups, Lakhpati Didi, Drone Didi, E-rickshaw Didi, Team Prahari, women from various communities and disabled sisters tied Rakhi to the Chief Minister.

national and international events. Sharing a heartfelt anecdote, the Chief Minister recalled that while returning from a visit to Delhi this morning, journalist sister Jigyasa tied a Rakhi to him at the airport to express her affection. The Chief Minister said that today, self-help group sisters, Lakhpati sisters, Drone sisters, E-rickshaw sisters, Setting Plate sisters, and Mitanin sisters are setting new examples of women's empowerment in their respective fields. The 50 percent reservation for women in Panchayat elections has further strengthened women's role in local leadership. Today, many Sarpanch sisters are giving new direction to village development through their leadership and innovation.
The Mahtari Vandan Yojana has boosted women's self-confidence.
Chief Minister Sai stated that women's economic empowerment is among the top priorities of the government. To this end, approximately 6.8 million women in the state are being provided financial assistance of one thousand rupees per month through the Mahatari Vandan Yojana. He said that to ensure that the mothers and sisters of the state can celebrate Rakshabandhan with enthusiasm and joy, an amount of more than 631 crore rupees was transferred to the bank accounts of the women as the 31st installment of the Mahatari Vandan Yojana on August 25th, ahead of the scheduled date. The Chief Minister said that the Mahatari Vandan Yojana is not just a financial assistance scheme, but has also boosted women's self-confidence. Women are using this amount for their small needs, children's education, health, savings, and livelihood activities.
Chhattisgarh surpasses its target, with 13.85 lakh women becoming Lakhpati Didi.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has pledged to make the country's women economically self-reliant and empower them as Lakhpati Didis. The goal is to make 6 crore women Lakhpati Didis across the country. He said that Chhattisgarh had a target of making 8 lakh women Lakhpati Didis, but the state has exceeded this target and has made 13.85 lakh women Lakhpati Didis in the last two years. This is a testament to the hard work, self-confidence, and entrepreneurship of Chhattisgarh's mothers and sisters. Referring to the Drone Didi scheme, the Chief Minister said that rural women are now engaging with modern technology. They are increasing their income by spraying fertilizers and pesticides in the fields through drones. Spraying generates an income of approximately 300 rupees per acre, and Drone Didis are earning 6 to 7 thousand rupees per day by working on 20 to 25 acres.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that women are not only being empowered as beneficiaries of schemes, but are also being empowered as strong partners in economic activities and the development process. Women from self-help groups are now advancing in new areas, in addition to traditional livelihood activities. He noted that large-scale housing construction is underway in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with approximately 1,600 houses being built daily. Women from self-help groups are earning a good income by engaging in the business of sintering plates used in the construction of these houses. Referring to the e-rickshaw sisters, the Chief Minister said that 92 e-rickshaw sisters in Naya Raipur are setting a new example of self-reliance. He also shared that during his visit to Jashpur, e-rickshaws were provided to 50 women in his village, Bagiya, on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. For these women, e-rickshaws are becoming not just a means of transportation, but a means of achieving respectable livelihoods