Raipur, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai today participated in a high-level meeting with the officials of Azim Premji Foundation and departmental officials regarding the expansion of education and health facilities in Chhattisgarh at Mahanadi Bhawan, Ministry. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the government is committed to upgrading education and health facilities in the state. In this direction, the government is making continuous efforts. The participation of the private sector under corporate social responsibility will strengthen the government’s work. In the meeting, an MoU was signed between the Department of Health and Azim Premji Foundation for the expansion of health facilities in the state.
In the meeting, the officials of Azim Premji Foundation gave detailed information to Chief Minister Shri Sai about the work being done by the Foundation in Chhattisgarh in the fields of education, health, creche (child care center), livelihood development, etc. through a powerpoint presentation. Chief Executive Officer of Azim Premji Foundation, Shri Anurag Behar, told the Chief Minister that the Foundation has been working in the field of social service in Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years. Currently, various activities are being conducted by the Foundation in 9 districts of the state.
The officials of the Azim Premji Foundation informed the Chief Minister about the Foundation’s future action plan in Chhattisgarh. He informed that the Azim Premji Foundation plans to set up a 200-300 bed super specialty hospital in Ambikapur and a 100-bed fully equipped hospital in Dharamjaygarh. In these hospitals, eighty percent of the patients will be provided completely free treatment, which will directly benefit the economically weaker and needy people.
The officials of the Foundation told Chief Minister Shri Sai that the Foundation will provide scholarships to 20 thousand girls studying in class X and XII from government schools in Chhattisgarh for higher education. Under this, an amount of Rs 30,000 per annum will be given for the tuition fees and other expenses of the girls. The Chief Minister appreciated the Foundation’s plan to provide scholarships to encourage girls’ education.
In the meeting, the officials of the Foundation informed Chief Minister Shri Sai that the Foundation is institutionally doing other important works including training of teachers with the aim of providing better education to the children of the state. In this sequence, 400 crushes (child care centers) are being operated in the state for small children from 6 months to 3 years. All the crushes are also providing food to the children 3 times a day. The Foundation plans to increase the number of creches in the state to 2500 to 3000 creches. Appreciating this initiative of Azim Premji Foundation, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that children will get education and nutrition in a safe environment through creches.
The officials of the Foundation also informed Chief Minister Shri Sai about the work being done for livelihood development. He said that the Foundation is working for the economic empowerment of the people through work in horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry and other areas in 42 villages of Dharamjaygarh. In the future, giving momentum to this work, the Foundation will also work on livelihood development in other districts.
Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development Department Smt. Niharika Barik Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Rahul Bhagat, Secretary of School Education Department Shri Siddharth Komal Pardesi, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Shri Amit Kataria, Secretary of Higher Education Department Dr. S. Bhartidasan, Secretary of Women and Child Development Department Smt. Shammi Abidi, Azim Premji Foundation’s State Head Shri Sunil and other officers were present in the meeting.