Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged people on Sunday in his monthly radio talk programme to shun firecrackers on Diwali as it leads to alarming rise in pollution.
Rs Rs Fire crackers are not only extravagant but also create sound and air pollution, he remarked in his popular programme Rs Lokwani’.
Baghel said that Diwali is not just a one-day festival in fact it is part of the prolonged festive season which begins with Sharad Poornima and also covers Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, Maatar, Bhai-Duj etc.
“We have decided to celebrate Gaura-Gauri utsav and Govardhan Puja as ‘Gothan Diwas’, he reiterated, adding “these festivals remind us about our rich culture’’.
The radio talk programme was largely focused on health and motherhood. Interacting to listeners, Chief Minister said that Suposhan Abhiyan is playing key role in eradication of malnutrition and it is beneficial for pregnant and lactating mothers as well.
“Our top-priority is to provide better healthcare to mothers and infants,’’ he stated. Expressing apprehension of poor health of women in state, he said 47% females between age group 15-49 years in Chhattisgarh are anaemic. He hoped that the Suposhan Abhiyan would be highly useful for women.
In response to feedback received from a listener from Khairagarh about unavailability of adequate health services and nutrition rehab centers, Chief Minister assured that soon a 50-bed hospital will be opened in Khairagarh.
