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Kiran Dev
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a symbol of development and good governance in Indian politics. The path of development that India is pursuing today under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is guided by the mantra of good governance laid down by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This mantra has been adopted as a core policy by the double-engine governments at the Centre and in the states for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor.
Atal Ji, an unparalleled figure in Indian politics and a poet at heart, shared a deep emotional bond with Chhattisgarh. I still vividly remember the election rally held at Sapre Ground in Raipur before the formation of the state, when people from every corner of Chhattisgarh gathered simply to catch a glimpse of Atal Ji. The moment he raised the slogan “Chhattisgarhia Sabse Badhiya” (People of Chhattisgarh is the best), the entire ground resonated with devotion towards ‘Chhattisgarh Mata’.
On that occasion, he declared, “Give me 11 seats, and I will give you the state of Chhattisgarh.” In that election, seven Members of Parliament from our party were elected to the Lok Sabha from Chhattisgarh. True to his word, Atal Ji fulfilled the promise he made to the people of Chhattisgarh, demonstrating his unwavering commitment and setting a remarkable example of political integrity.
The proposal for the formation of the state of Chhattisgarh was approved in the Lok Sabha on July 31, 2000, and in the Rajya Sabha on August 9, 2000. Following its publication in the Gazette of India on September 4, 2000, the state of Chhattisgarh came into existence on November 1, 2000, as the 26th state of the country.
This year marks the silver jubilee of the formation of the state of Chhattisgarh. On this occasion, the three-crore people of Chhattisgarh are paying their heartfelt respects to the founder of their state, Atal Ji, in recognition of his virtuous contributions. Hon’ble Atal Ji viewed politics as a means of serving the greater good and was a pioneer of inclusive development.
Through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, he connected villages across the country with paved roads. Today, more than 600,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed nationwide under this scheme, a true testament to Atal Ji’s vision. This ambitious initiative, born out of his foresight, has emerged as a harbinger of prosperity for states like Chhattisgarh. This is evident from the fact that a road network of approximately 22,750 kilometres has been developed in the state over the past 25 years.
Atal Ji is also credited with ushering in a highway revolution in the country. The Golden Quadrilateral project, launched during his tenure as Prime Minister, connected the nation through an extensive network of national highways. Furthermore, by conducting nuclear tests at Pokhran from May 11 to 13, 1998, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee demonstrated to the world that India would never compromise on its sovereignty and integrity.
Atal Ji dedicated his entire life to improving the lives of those at the lowest rung of society. He established the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at the Centre, paving the way for the comprehensive development of tribal communities. Today, policy initiatives such as PM JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Tribal Village Development Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, are benefiting all tribal-majority states across the country, including Chhattisgarh.
Atal Ji launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2001–02 to promote universal school education. This initiative significantly improved access to schooling for children from all income groups across the country. He also initiated the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas programme to strengthen the connection between people of Indian origin living abroad and India’s development journey. During his tenure, India not only achieved victory in the Kargil War but also responded firmly to Pakistan’s support for terrorism, effectively isolating it on the international stage.
The conduct and priorities of every Bharatiya Janata Party karyakarta, as well as the policy decisions of our government, clearly reflect the vision of the revered Atal Ji. The inspiration and philosophy of Atal Ji, which we have embraced and continue to advance, have further strengthened the public’s trust in the Bharatiya Janata Party and its governments.
The dream that Atal Ji envisioned for the development of Chhattisgarh was realised for fifteen years by the BJP government under the leadership of Dr. Raman Singh, with the blessings and support of the people. Guided by the same development-oriented vision inspired by Atal Ji, the present BJP government—under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and led in Chhattisgarh by Shri Vishnu Deo Sai—is firmly dedicated to the mission of Antyodaya, the upliftment of the poorest of the poor.
In Chhattisgarh, the welfare of the poor, farmers, women, youth, and tribal communities has been the top priority of our double-engine government from day one. On the second day after its formation, our government held a cabinet meeting and, in accordance with Modi ji’s guarantee, decided to approve the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for more than 1.8 million needy families. Today, the construction of 2.6 million houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is underway across the state.
The previous Congress government’s betrayal of farmers has permanently tarnished its image in the eyes of the Annadata. On December 25, 2023—Good Governance Day, which also marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee—our government disbursed Rs. 3,716 crore as outstanding paddy bonus to 1.2 million farmers in the state. For the past three Kharif seasons, our government has continued to set new records by procuring paddy from farmers at a rate of Rs. 3,100 per quintal.
Chhattisgarh is a vital engine of the country’s economy. However, for decades, Naxalism significantly hampered the state’s development journey. Today, owing to the firm resolve of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, along with the indomitable courage and sacrifice of our security forces, the state is on the verge of completely eliminating Maoism. The good-governance initiatives of the double-engine government, including the Niyad Nellanar initiative, have proved to be instrumental in accelerating development and eradicating the roots of Naxalism.
Atal Ji always prioritised transparency and efficiency in governance. Following this guiding principle, the Chhattisgarh government has established the Department of Good Governance and Convergence, under which good-governance initiatives of various departments are being implemented in an effective and coordinated manner.
To ensure that the benefits of public welfare schemes reach their intended beneficiaries, our government has developed the Atal Monitoring System, which is used to monitor the implementation of schemes across the state.
Similarly, initiatives such as e-Office, Single Window System 2.0, Sugam, and the Sangwari app are translating Atal Ji’s mantra of good governance into reality. In line with changing lifestyles, information- and technology-based services have not only made life easier for citizens but have also enhanced transparency in government functioning.
While the previous Congress government had made the permit system for coal transportation offline, our government has digitised the process, thereby curbing corruption. The Congress government also tarnished the credibility of examinations such as the PSC, shattering the dreams of young people; in contrast, our government has restored transparency and trust in the examination system. For the convenience of the youth, an annual calendar of competitive examinations is now released in advance.
On the occasion of Atal Ji’s birth anniversary, the BJP government in Chhattisgarh has declared this year as Atal Nirman Year. This Good Governance Day, therefore, presents an opportunity to accelerate the progress of both the state and the nation through renewed resolve. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, we remain firmly committed to building a developed and prosperous Chhattisgarh.
(The writer is BJP State President, Chhattisgarh)