TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 17, 2025: Marking Vishwakarma Jayanti and Chhattisgarh’s Silver Jubilee year, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai delivered a series of major announcements for laborers, underscoring their pivotal role in building a developed Chhattisgarh. Speaking at the Workers’ Mahasammelan held at the Indoor Stadium in Raipur, the Chief Minister described laborers as the “backbone of society” and declared that their hard work and dedication would lay the foundation of both a developed state and a developed India.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister extended benefits worth over ₹65 crore to 1.84 lakh registered workers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under multiple schemes of the Labour Department. He also unveiled new welfare measures, increasing the assistance amount under the Didi E-Rickshaw Scheme from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh and raising the grant for construction of workers’ houses from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh. In a significant step towards healthcare, he announced that the state government would now bear the full cost of free health check-ups and treatment for registered laborers, ensuring greater social security for working families.
Greeting workers on Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti and wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday, the Chief Minister linked the progress of Chhattisgarh to the leadership of both Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who created the state, and Prime Minister Modi, who has propelled its development through people-centric policies. He said the state government’s priority is to stand beside workers at every stage—whether in health, education, housing, or financial security—and to fulfill Modi’s guarantees with complete transparency.
Detailing the benefits, the Chief Minister highlighted that funds were disbursed under a range of flagship schemes including the Minimata Mahatari Jatan Scheme, Chief Minister Noni Empowerment Scheme, Construction Workers Safety Equipment Assistance Scheme, and various scholarship programs for workers’ children. He stressed that technology-driven governance, such as the Shramev Jayate portal and helpline, is ensuring quick redressal of complaints and transparency in welfare delivery. Further, the e-Shram portal has expanded benefits to workers, with provisions even for unregistered workers to receive ₹1 lakh in case of accidental death at the workplace.
Placing special emphasis on education, CM Sai announced that the Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Yojana, which provides coaching support for IIT, JEE, NEET, and CA aspirants from labor families, would be expanded. Seats in the Delhi Tribal Hostel for UPSC aspirants have already been increased from 50 to 185, and the number of seats in the Atal Utkrisht program will rise from 100 to 200 in the coming academic session. He said that such initiatives would empower the children of workers to compete nationally and secure brighter futures.
The event also featured a large exhibition organized by the Labour Department, which showcased safety equipment, welfare schemes, and worker-friendly innovations. The Chief Minister inspected stalls highlighting health initiatives such as TB testing, maternal health, and nutrition, as well as schemes like sewing machine and cycle assistance. A blood donation camp organized by the Employees’ State Insurance Services and distribution of free spectacles by the Labour Welfare Board were also part of the program.
Complementing the Mahasammelan, the Labour Department has been organizing 55 health camps across all districts from September 12 to 19, offering free health check-ups, medicines, and worker registrations. Special skill development programs have been launched in Mahasamund, Bilaspur, and Rajnandgaon districts to upgrade the skills of construction workers, with plans to expand training across the state.
Labour Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan emphasized that workers are central to India’s growth story and praised the Chief Minister for transferring more than ₹65 crore to beneficiaries on this auspicious occasion. He stated that 72 schemes are currently being implemented by the department to support laborers and their families. Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, Finance Minister OP Choudhary, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Food Minister Dayal Das Baghel, Skill Development Minister Guru Khuswant Saheb, MP Brijmohan Agrawal, several MLAs, and senior officials including Labour Department Secretary Him Shikhar Gupta and Board Chairman Dr. Ram Pratap Singh were also present.
At the conference, the government detailed the direct transfer of ₹58.32 crore to over 1.77 lakh workers through the Building and Other Construction Workers Board, ₹4.77 crore to 3,839 workers via the Unorganized Workers State Social Security Board, and ₹2.06 crore to 3,332 workers through the Labour Welfare Board. This assistance reached beneficiaries under multiple schemes, from tool and equipment assistance to scholarships for children of workers.
By coupling financial assistance with expanded health and education benefits, the government has signaled a comprehensive approach to labor welfare. The Vishwakarma Jayanti celebrations thus became not just a tribute to workers’ contribution, but also a reaffirmation of Chhattisgarh’s commitment to empower its labor force as the cornerstone of its vision for a Viksit Bharat.
