Chief Minister interacts with 36 Good Governance Fellows; two-year programme combines IIM Raipur training with district-level field assignments
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 9, 2026: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday urged young professionals selected for the second batch of the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Fellowship Programme to use their knowledge, skills and innovative ideas to improve public service delivery and contribute to Chhattisgarh’s development.
Interacting with 36 fellows at his residence office in Raipur, Sai said active youth participation was essential to achieving the vision of Viksit Chhattisgarh and Viksit Bharat. He asked the participants to treat the fellowship not merely as an opportunity to understand government functioning but as a platform to identify public problems and develop practical solutions.
The interaction covered governance, education, employment, investment, modern technology and the implementation of welfare schemes. The Chief Minister also shared experiences from his student days, early struggles and years in public life, urging the fellows to perform their responsibilities with sincerity, integrity and empathy.
Sai asked the participants to understand local conditions and people’s needs during their district assignments. He stressed coordination with government departments and called for actionable recommendations based on data, evidence and field experience to improve the delivery of public services.
Focus on skills, employment and investment
Highlighting the importance of employment-oriented skills alongside formal education, Sai said the state government was upgrading 30 Industrial Training Institutes to meet changing industrial requirements and providing skill development training through Livelihood Colleges.
According to the Chief Minister, more than 700 job fairs had been organised across the state over the preceding two-and-a-half years, providing employment to nearly 24,000 young people. He also referred to a recent two-day state-level job fair in Raipur, where more than 95 employers participated and around 5,000 employment opportunities were reported.
Sai said the state’s New Industrial Policy prioritised local employment and entrepreneurship, including incentives for women and entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He emphasised that investment proposals must translate into projects and actual jobs, adding that the implementation of investment agreements was being reviewed regularly.
Referring to his recent visit to Singapore, he said the state had presented its investment potential to industry leaders and business representatives. He identified sectors such as semiconductors and textiles as areas that could create employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the proposed Medi-City in Nava Raipur, spread over nearly 100 acres and envisaged to accommodate hospitals with a combined capacity of 5,000 beds. He said the project could expand specialised healthcare services and generate employment.
AI education for six lakh students
Sai said a budgetary provision of ₹500 crore had been made for the state’s Artificial Intelligence Mission. The initiative aims to provide AI education to six lakh students and training to around 1,500 government officers and employees.
On education, he contrasted the limited facilities available during his childhood with the state’s present network of institutions, including IIT, IIM, IIIT, AIIMS and Hidayatullah National Law University. He also referred to government initiatives such as Prayas Residential Schools, competitive examination coaching and accommodation facilities for tribal youth preparing for examinations in New Delhi.
Recalling his early life, Sai said his father died when he was 10, leaving him with family responsibilities as the eldest of four brothers. He said the experience of helping with agricultural work and supporting his family had taught him hard work, accountability and resilience.
He also recalled the influence of late Dilip Singh Judeo, citing his patience, simplicity and warmth as sources of inspiration. Sai said remaining connected with people at the grassroots and being accessible to address their concerns had been central to his public life.
Two-year fellowship combines training and fieldwork
Chief Minister’s Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Good Governance and Convergence Rahul Bhagat said the second batch comprised 36 fellows from diverse academic backgrounds, including engineering, science, management, mathematics, commerce and economics. Some participants also run their own start-ups.
The two-year programme comprises five months of academic study and training and 19 months of field experience. After an initial three-month training module at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, the fellows will work with district administrations to study government procedures, the implementation of welfare schemes and the delivery of public services.
The programme is being conducted by the Department of Good Governance and Convergence in collaboration with IIM Raipur and Transform Rural India. The 36 fellows were selected through the Common Admission Test scores and IIM’s selection process and represent 14 districts, including Dantewada, Bastar and Jashpur.
Their work will include monitoring welfare schemes, policy analysis, inter-departmental coordination and initiatives to improve public service delivery. Bhagat encouraged the fellows to study the state’s long-term vision document, ‘Anjor Chhattisgarh 2047’, and contribute ideas for its development.
The three-day orientation programme included sessions on the state’s administrative structure, good governance priorities, the Public Service Guarantee framework, stakeholder mapping and field operations.
IIM Raipur Director Sanjeev Prashar, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Good Governance and Convergence Suraj Sahu and other officials attended the interaction.
