Chief Minister’s Surprise Visit to Mart: Interacts with Customers, People Call GST Reforms a “Savings Revolution”

When the Chief Minister Became a Customer Himself: Shopping for Household Items and Benefitting from Reduced GST Rates

Raipur, Sept 2025 : In a surprise move, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited Shubham K-Mart in Sarona, Raipur, where people shopping for daily essentials were pleasantly surprised to see the state’s leader among them. The CM, who came to connect directly with public sentiments during the ongoing GST Savings Festival, shopped for household goods worth ₹1,645 and made the payment via UPI, setting an example of adopting the GST reduction benefits personally.

During his interaction, the Chief Minister asked customers about the impact of GST rate cuts on household budgets. Women shoppers shared how their monthly budget had decreased while their purchasing capacity had increased. Youths and senior citizens expressed how essential items and medicines had become more affordable. Responding to them with a smile, the CM said—“This is exactly the purpose of reforms: that their echo reaches the common people.”

Shoppers were delighted to see the Chief Minister behave as one of them—buying daily-use items, chatting warmly, and asking about their lives. They said that the leader of the state had blended in with the public like an ordinary citizen.

“This is not just a GST cut, it is a savings revolution”

Retired Air Force officer T.P. Singh told the CM that when history is written, the GST reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership will be remembered as a “historic budget revolution.” He added, “Earlier, with the same money we could buy ration for 30 days, now it lasts more than 40 days. Only our Prime Minister could take such a bold decision.”

Stationery Made Tax-Free

Raipur’s Avanti Vihar resident Laddaram Nainwani highlighted that the GST reforms have also benefited education. Showing a notebook to the CM, he said, “Earlier there was a 12% tax on this, now PM Modi has made it zero. This historic step has made notebooks and stationery affordable.” He further explained that earlier he spent around ₹2,000 annually on stationery for his children, but now he saves about ₹240.

From Buying 4 Items to 4 Times More

A customer named Murlidhar said, “I came to buy only four essential items today, but after seeing the GST rate cuts, I bought four times more. The reforms have made daily-use items cheaper, giving us direct benefit.”

10% Drop in Monthly Budget

Another couple, Jitendra and Padma Devangan from Changorabhata, said their monthly household budget has gone down by 10%. Padma, a homemaker, happily pointed to new price tags and said, “Earlier I paid much more for detergents and spices. Now, thanks to reduced rates, festive shopping has become economical.”

Festive Shopping Within Budget

Shoppers Savita Maurya and Anita Sakar, who had come to buy decorative items for a Navratri Kanya Bhoj, said, “The prices of such items have dropped. GST cuts have allowed us to shop beyond our set budget. For the first time, it feels like festive sales are real relief, not just advertisements.”

The Chief Minister urged everyone to support the Swadeshi (local products) movement, to which the crowd responded—“You take the lead, we are with you.”

With these historic GST reforms, the markets have regained vibrancy. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the festive season has brought people a significant gift in the form of GST rate reductions, making essential commodities cheaper and increasing consumer confidence.