CM Vishnu Deo Sai virtually inaugurated the ‘Atal Digital Seva Kendra’ on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day

Three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions are the basic link of rural development. I served as a Panch for five years and also got the opportunity to serve unopposed as Sarpanch. If you perform your duties well, you will always receive the affection of the people and will be able to play a big role in the development of the village. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said this today while addressing panchayat representatives and villagers after virtually inaugurating the ‘Atal Digital Seva Kendra’ from the capital Raipur. He said that this scheme, launched on the special occasion of Panchayati Raj Day, will bring a digital revolution in the rural areas of Chhattisgarh and access to government services and schemes of the state will become easier for common people. On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani Maha Abhiyan’ in 11,693 gram panchayats of the state with the objective of water conservation and administered an oath for water conservation to panchayat representatives and citizens.

The Chief Minister extended greetings on National Panchayati Raj Day and said that panchayats are the roots of our democracy and strengthening them is our top priority. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had promised the people of Chhattisgarh that cash payment facilities would be made available in gram panchayats so that villagers do not have to go to bank branches. Today, fulfilling this guarantee of Modi, the Atal Digital Seva Kendra has been inaugurated.
He said that our elderly pensioners, mothers and sisters benefitting from the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, and food-giving farmers receiving amounts from PM Kisan Nidhi and other DBT schemes will now be able to withdraw money right in the village. Mr. Sai said that villagers will no longer have to travel long distances to reach banks, which will also save their travel expenses over time. The Chief Minister said that government services such as caste, residence, birth, death certificates, pension schemes, ration cards will also become easy and accessible for villagers. Mr. Sai expressed confidence that this scheme will strengthen the Digital India Mission at the grassroots level and promote a transparent and accountable governance system in rural areas. He informed that today this facility has started in 1,460 gram panchayats and will be expanded in the future.

The Chief Minister said that the groundwater level in the state is continuously decreasing and the Mor Gaon Mor Pani Maha Abhiyan has been launched with the aim of water conservation. He told panchayat representatives that you all must work seriously in the direction of water conservation. Along with rainwater harvesting, we will also have to move forward with methods like water harvesting. Through these efforts, we will be able to overcome the water shortage in the state in the coming time. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that today Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has released an amount of more than ₹300 crore for PM Awas to 51,000 families of the state. The Prime Minister constantly worries that every needy family gets a pucca house. He informed that the Awas Plus Plus survey is currently ongoing and its scope has been increased by making some additional relaxations. The Chief Minister urged people to participate in the survey to benefit from the scheme and asked panchayat representatives to spread awareness about it to the general public.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma extended greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day. In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Atal Digital Seva Kendra will strengthen the reach of digital services in rural areas. Through these centers, citizens will easily be able to access birth-death certificates, income-caste-residence certificates, land documents, digital payments, and many e-district services right at the gram panchayat level. He said that in the first phase, this facility is being started in 10 gram panchayats of each Janpad and in the next six months, these centers will be established in more than 8,000 panchayats.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that water conservation is the biggest necessity today. To revive traditional water sources, collect rainwater and restore groundwater levels, the Mor Gaon Mor Pani Maha Abhiyan has been launched. In each gram panchayat, water conservation plans will be made with the participation of citizens and their implementation will be ensured. He urged sarpanches, Janpad and district panchayat members to identify water sources in their respective areas and actively work for their reconstruction and conservation.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Panchayati Raj is the root of democracy and the backbone of village development. He called on panchayat representatives to pledge to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach the last person and that no eligible person is deprived of government services. He also said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a list of incomplete houses will be prepared and their timely implementation will be ensured.

On this occasion, Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. P. Dayanand, Panchayat Secretary Mr. Bheem Singh, Director of PM Awas Gramin Mr. Taran Prakash Sinha along with officials, employees and panchayat representatives, beneficiaries and common citizens from various districts of the state were virtually present.

Chief Minister interacted with beneficiaries and public representatives of Atal Digital Seva Kendra

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today, on the occasion of inauguration of Atal Digital Seva Kendra, held detailed discussions regarding the scheme with various beneficiaries from Surajpur, Dhamtari, Bastar, Kabirdham, Raigarh, and Jashpur districts. He informed that this scheme has been launched keeping in mind the convenience of villagers and information about it should be spread as much as possible.

Mrs. Sumani Baghel of Nangur Gram Panchayat in Bastar district told the Chief Minister that she receives ₹1,000 per month from Mahtari Vandan, which she deposits in the post office to buy a laptop for her daughter studying in 8th grade for computer classes. With the opening of the Atal Digital Seva Kendra in her panchayat, she no longer has to travel 18–20 km or stand in long queues at the bank for financial transactions. Thanking the Chief Minister, she said that both money and time are being saved with the center’s opening.

Similarly, Mrs. Chetna Devangan of Achhota village in Dhamtari district said that today she withdrew ₹2,000 from the Atal Digital Seva Kendra. Thanking the Chief Minister, she said that with the service center opening in the village, she will no longer face the troubles she used to for withdrawing money.

Chief Minister Shri Sai, while speaking to Sakina Begum of Bhaiyathan Panchayat in Surajpur district, said that today we have fulfilled another guarantee of Modi. Now you will be able to withdraw the amount received from government schemes right in the panchayat.

Likewise, Mrs. Subhadra Saw of Tamanar Panchayat in Raigarh told the Chief Minister that with the amount she receives every month under Mahtari Vandan Yojana, she pays for her daughter’s tuition, and now she can easily withdraw money from the village itself.