*Bastar’s innovations openly appreciated in the Chief Ministers’ Council meeting held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister*
*Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai explained—how Bastar became a model of culture, participation, and development*
Raipur, May 25, 2025 / In the Chief Ministers’ Council meeting held at Ashok Hotel in Delhi, the Chhattisgarh government’s good governance model, innovations, and public participation-based schemes made a special identity. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai’s presentation of innovative events like Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum attracted the attention of the Chief Ministers of various states including Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao and Shri Vijay Sharma were also present at the meeting.
Chief Minister Shri Sai started his presentation with institutional initiatives for good governance in the state. He said that the ‘Good Governance and Convergence Department’ has been constituted in Chhattisgarh and schemes are being implemented effectively. Schemes are being monitored through digital platforms like the ‘Atal Monitoring Portal’, which is making it possible to resolve complaints within a stipulated time. He said that the aim of the government is not only to make schemes, but to implement them on the ground with honesty and sensitivity.
There was also a special discussion in the meeting on the implementation of the central government’s flagship schemes. The Chief Minister said that schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Ayushman Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission have been delivered to the general public in Chhattisgarh through Gram Sabha, public dialogue and technology.
The most inspiring moment of the meeting came when the Chief Minister gave a special presentation on the Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum. Quoting Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of ‘Kheloge India, Jeetoge India’, he said that Chhattisgarh has made it a reality on the ground. Bastar Olympics has now become not just a sports event, but a social revolution—which has snatched guns from the hands of the youth and handed them balls, spears and arrows.
The Chief Minister said that 1.65 lakh participants from 32 development blocks of 7 districts participated in this event. This competition, organized in three phases—development block, district and division level—was focused on 11 traditional sports like archery, kho-kho, kabaddi, running, tug-of-war etc. Competitions were held in four categories—junior, senior, women and differently-abled.
Chief Minister Sai shared the example of Punen Sanna of Dornapal, who was once from a Naxal-affected area, but today has become an inspiration for the entire society by winning a medal in the wheelchair race. Prime Minister Shri Modi had also praised the Bastar Olympics in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, saying that this event is not just a sport, but a celebration of the soul of Bastar.
The Chief Minister said that through the Bastar Pandum festival, Chhattisgarh not only preserved the tribal culture, folk arts and traditions, but also provided them a national platform. In this event, 1,743 cultural groups and 47,000 participants from 1,885 gram panchayats of 32 development blocks of 7 districts participated. This festival, decorated with various colors like folk dance, song-music, haat-bazaars, and food competitions, became a symbol of the unity, identity and development of Bastar, connecting everyone from the elderly to the youth. A grant of Rs 2.4 crore was also provided by the government. In the Naxal-affected areas, this event has awakened a new consciousness of a positive future through festivals and sports.
Among the states that got an opportunity to present their schemes in the meeting, Chhattisgarh’s ‘Bastar Model’ was very impressive. This unique combination of public participation, culture and development impressed everyone. It was suggested in the meeting that such models based on public participation and cultural connection can also be adopted in other states. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Chief Ministers of other states, while calling these initiatives exemplary, suggested that such innovations, which connect with the roots of the society and determine the direction of development, should be expanded. The way the ‘Bastar Model’ of Chhattisgarh was appreciated in the Chief Ministers’ Council meeting made it clear that how a strong foundation of change can be laid even in remote and challenging areas through coordination of public participation, cultural renaissance and development.