Chief Minister interacts warmly with Meera, who sells earthen lamps at Telibandha Marine Drive; gives her Rs 1,000 in recognition of her hard work and self-reliance
Chief Minister personally buys an earthen lamp for the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme; urges citizens to embrace the spirit of service and public participation
Raipur, September 15, 2026/ A routine day at a small roadside stall at Raipur’s Telibandha Marine Drive took an unexpected turn for Meera when Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai’s convoy stopped beside her stall, where she was selling earthen lamps.
As Meera arranged the lamps and waited for customers, Shri Sai stopped at her stall and purchased a diya for the upcoming ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme, being organised under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’. He also gave her Rs 1,000. The Chief Minister’s spontaneous gesture conveyed a heartwarming message of respect for the hard work, dignity and self-reliance of Meera, who earns her livelihood through her small roadside business.
The Chief Minister’s unexpected visit to the roadside stall came as a pleasant surprise to those present nearby. Without any formality, he spoke warmly with Meera and enquired about her work, family and well-being.
During the conversation, Shri Sai asked whether she was receiving benefits under welfare schemes run by the Central and State Governments. Meera told him that she had opened a bank account under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and was also receiving Rs 1,000 every month under the State Government’s Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed happiness on learning that Meera was receiving benefits under these schemes. He said government schemes become truly meaningful only when their benefits directly reach people in need, empower them and help improve their lives. Ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of welfare schemes easily and transparently remains the government’s priority.
He further said that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has laid a strong foundation for financial inclusion by connecting poor, deprived and needy families with the banking system. As a result, financial assistance under various government schemes is now being transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
He said the Mahtari Vandan Yojana provides monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to mothers and women across Chhattisgarh. Besides helping them meet their day-to-day expenses, the assistance is also strengthening their financial confidence.
Shri Sai said roadside vendors, potters, artisans and women producing local goods embody the strength of a self-reliant Chhattisgarh through their labour and skills. Encouraging people who earn their livelihood through their talent and hard work, he said, is a collective responsibility.
He added that buying a local product is not merely a purchase. Behind every product lies the labour of a family, the skill of an artisan and the dignity associated with a small entrepreneur’s livelihood. When people buy goods from local vendors and artisans, even this small gesture provides meaningful support to their families and livelihoods.
‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ to Symbolise Service and Public Participation
The earthen lamp purchased by Chief Minister Shri Sai from Meera will become a symbol of the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme being organised under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’. Through the programme, an effort is being made to connect the collective commitment to service, public welfare and development with public participation.
Shri Sai said that, in Indian culture, a lamp is not merely a source of light but also a symbol of hope and positive resolve. When lit, even a small earthen lamp dispels the darkness around it. Similarly, when every individual comes forward with even a small commitment to service, collective efforts can pave the way for large-scale positive change.
He said ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ embodies this spirit. It symbolises the collective commitment to service and development, as well as the power of public participation. When citizens across the State embrace this spirit, the resolve to serve will reach every home and every section of society.
Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to Make Service a People’s Resolve
Shri Sai said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has dedicated 25 years of his public life to the nation and public service. The ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ is being organised from September 17, the Prime Minister’s birthday, to October 17. The campaign offers an opportunity to further strengthen the commitment to service, good governance, the welfare of the poor and development through public participation.
Chief Minister Shri Sai appealed to the people of Chhattisgarh to join the campaign with enthusiasm and a spirit of service. He urged citizens to participate in cleanliness activities in their villages, cities and neighbourhoods, contribute to environmental conservation, assist those in need and take at least one pledge of public service according to their capacity.
He said no act of service is too small. Helping someone in need, keeping one’s surroundings clean, planting and caring for a sapling, purchasing a product from a local artisan or making any small effort in the larger interest of society can become a meaningful form of public service.
One Small Lamp, A Powerful Message
The earthen lamp purchased by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai from a small roadside stall at Telibandha Marine Drive has acquired significance in several ways. On the one hand, it represents respect for the hard work and self-reliance of a woman earning her livelihood through her own efforts; on the other, the Chief Minister’s informal conversation with Meera highlighted the grassroots reach of welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. The same lamp will now become a symbol of service, public participation and commitment to development through the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme.
MLA Shri Purandar Mishra was present on the occasion.
