Chief Minister’s Major Announcement: Government Engineering College, Digma, to Be Renamed ‘Engineer Baba Kartik Oraon Chhattisgarh Institute of Technology, Ambikapur’
Sitapur Gets a 3.82-Kilometre Four-Lane Road Worth More Than ₹28 Crore; Chief Minister Performs Ground-Breaking Ceremony
Chief Minister Inaugurates Women’s NGO Mess and Police Residential Buildings Constructed by the Police Housing Corporation
Baba Kartik Oraon Showed the Tribal Community the Path to Progress Through Education, Organisation and Social Awareness: Chief Minister Shri Sai
Baba Kartik Oraon’s Contribution to Protecting the Self-Respect, Cultural Identity and Rights of Tribal Communities Will Always Be Remembered: Chief Minister
State Government Committed to Preserving the Glorious Legacy of Tribal Leaders and Taking Their Ideals to the New Generation
Decisive Success Against Naxalism Marks the Beginning of a New Era of Peace, Trust and Development in Bastar: Chief Minister Shri Sai
Chhattisgarh Will Play an Important Role in Building a Developed India; Our Resolve Is to Make the State Prosperous and Self-Reliant: Chief Minister
Raipur, October 2026 : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today virtually participated from the Chief Minister’s residence in Civil Lines, Raipur, in the birth centenary celebrations of Baba Kartik Oraon, a great leader of the tribal community, renowned engineer and former Member of Parliament, organised in the Surguja region. He unveiled Baba Kartik Oraon’s magnificent life-size statue. On the occasion, respecting the sentiments of the tribal community, Chief Minister Shri Sai made the important announcement that the Government Engineering College, Digma, Ambikapur, would be named the ‘Engineer Baba Kartik Oraon Chhattisgarh Institute of Technology, Ambikapur’.
The Chief Minister said that Baba Kartik Oraon’s life was an inspiring story of education, struggle, social awareness and the self-respect of the tribal community. His ideals would continue to inspire future generations to advance through education and serve society and the nation.
The Chief Minister, on this occasion, gave the Sitapur region an important infrastructure development project by performing the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a four-lane road approximately 3.82 kilometres long, from Sontarai to Sur. More than ₹28 crore will be spent on the construction of this road. Its completion will make transportation easier and safer in Sitapur town and the surrounding rural areas and give fresh momentum to commercial and economic activities.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed women’s NGO mess building, 12 residential quarters for non-gazetted officers and 12 residential quarters for head constables and constables in Udaipur, as well as 12 residential buildings for head constables and constables at Sitapur police station, constructed by the Chhattisgarh Police Housing Corporation. He said that providing better residential facilities to police officers and personnel was an important responsibility of the state government. These new buildings would provide a comfortable environment for police personnel and their families.
Baba Kartik Oraon’s Life Was Dedicated to the Self-Respect and Upliftment of the Tribal Community
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai paid his respectful tribute to Baba Kartik Oraon on his birth centenary and said that he was not only a great leader of the tribal community but also a visionary thinker, highly educated engineer and vigilant guardian of the community’s rights. He dedicated his entire life to spreading education, creating social awareness, strengthening organisation and preserving the cultural identity of the tribal community.
The Chief Minister said that Baba Kartik Oraon demonstrated his talent by obtaining higher education at a time when educational opportunities for the tribal community were extremely limited. He received an engineering education and also pursued higher studies abroad, establishing a distinct identity for himself. This achievement is a matter of pride and inspiration for the entire tribal community.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Baba Kartik Oraon did not regard education merely as a means of personal advancement but made it the most powerful instrument for bringing about social change. He believed that through education, organisation and awareness, society could protect its rights and secure a respectable place in the mainstream of development.
He said that Baba Kartik Oraon encouraged the tribal community to remain aware of its traditions, culture and original identity. Along with organising the community, he inspired the younger generation to pursue modern education and play an active role in nation-building. His life demonstrates that great achievements can be attained even in adverse circumstances through determination, hard work and education.
Baba Kartik Oraon Became a Strong Voice for Tribal Rights in Parliament
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Baba Kartik Oraon, as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, effectively raised the problems and rights of the tribal community at the national level. He consistently worked to protect the constitutional rights, social interests and cultural identity of tribal communities.
The Chief Minister noted that Baba Kartik Oraon had also prominently raised in Parliament issues concerning the benefits of tribal reservations and other constitutional facilities in cases of religious conversion.
The Chief Minister said that Baba Kartik Oraon believed that the rich traditions, customs and cultural heritage of the tribal community constituted its fundamental identity. While preserving these, it was essential to connect the community with education, technology and opportunities for modern development. He said that Baba Kartik Oraon’s ideas remained relevant even today and continued to guide efforts towards the all-round development of the tribal community.
Engineering College Named After Baba Kartik Oraon Will Inspire the New Generation
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that on the occasion of Baba Kartik Oraon’s birth centenary, the tribal community and the regional Member of Parliament had requested that the Government Engineering College at Digma, Ambikapur, be named after him. Respecting the sentiments of the tribal community and Baba Kartik Oraon’s historic contribution, the state government had accepted this request.
The Chief Minister announced that the Government Engineering College, Digma, Ambikapur, would henceforth be known as the ‘Engineer Baba Kartik Oraon Chhattisgarh Institute of Technology, Ambikapur’.
He said that Baba Kartik Oraon himself was a talented engineer. Therefore, naming an engineering institution after him held special significance. The institution would not only become a major centre for technical education but would also inspire students studying there through Baba Kartik Oraon’s struggles, academic achievements and dedication to society.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that young people educated at this institution would make important contributions to the development of Chhattisgarh and the entire country through their talent, knowledge and technical skills. He said that the state government was making efforts to provide better opportunities for quality higher and technical education to the youth of the state, particularly students from remote and tribal areas.
Government Committed to Preserving the Glorious Legacy of Tribal Leaders
Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed happiness over the unveiling of Baba Kartik Oraon’s magnificent life-size statue and said that the ground-breaking ceremony for installing the statue had been performed one year earlier, and the commitment had now been fulfilled. He appreciated the efforts of Ambikapur Municipal Corporation Mayor Manjusha Bhagat, public representatives, officers, employees and residents for making this possible.
The Chief Minister said that great tribal leaders had made important contributions to awakening society, protecting cultural heritage and the development of the country. It was the responsibility of everyone to take their life stories and struggles to the younger generation. Statues of great personalities were not merely symbols of remembrance; they continually reminded society of their ideals, thoughts and contributions.
He mentioned that just a day earlier, a statue of the renowned tribal leader of the Surguja region and former Union Minister, late Kaka Larrang Sai, had been unveiled in his native village of Chirai Jaswantpur. He said that the lives of great public leaders such as Kaka Larrang Sai and Baba Kartik Oraon had been dedicated to public service, social upliftment and the empowerment of the tribal community.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was continuously working to preserve the memories of great tribal leaders and familiarise the younger generation with their ideas and contributions. Such efforts further strengthen respect for the community’s glorious heritage and a sense of pride in its identity.
Four-Lane Road in Sitapur to Ease Traffic and Accelerate Regional Development
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, while performing the ground-breaking ceremony for the four-lane road project in Sitapur, said that the state government was committed to developing modern, safe and robust infrastructure in rural areas as well as cities. Better road connectivity was an important foundation for the social and economic development of any region.
The Chief Minister stated that an approximately 3.82-kilometre stretch of the national highway from Sontarai to Sur in Sitapur would be converted into a four-lane road. More than ₹28 crore would be spent on this important construction project. Widening the road would improve traffic management across almost the entire urban area of Sitapur and provide residents with easier and safer transportation.
He said that the Sitapur region was an important commercial and transportation centre in the Surguja region. A large number of people from surrounding rural areas visited the town for government-related work, trade, education, healthcare services and weekly markets. The construction of the four-lane road would directly benefit all these people.
The Chief Minister said that better road connectivity would promote commercial activities, make local markets more accessible and create new opportunities for employment and economic development in the region. He said that the state government’s objective was to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure development were not restricted to major cities but reached residents of smaller towns, settlements and rural areas equally.
Police Officers and Personnel to Receive Better Residential Facilities
Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed happiness over the inauguration of various buildings constructed by the Chhattisgarh Police Housing Corporation and said that police officers and personnel played an important role in maintaining law and order in the state. They discharged their responsibilities with complete dedication and commitment, even under difficult circumstances.
He said that providing the police force with a better working environment and essential facilities was the responsibility of the state government. With this objective, special attention was being given to expanding residential and other infrastructure facilities for the police department.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the women’s NGO mess building, 12 residential quarters for non-gazetted officers and 12 residential quarters for head constables and constables in Udaipur, along with 12 residential quarters for head constables and constables at Sitapur police station. He expressed confidence that these facilities would provide police officers and employees with a better residential environment and enable them to perform their duties with greater enthusiasm and morale.
Decisive Success Against Naxalism Opens a New Chapter of Development in Bastar
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that the state government was approaching the completion of three years in office. During this period, several important initiatives had been undertaken in the areas of development, public welfare and good governance. In particular, the success achieved in the decisive fight against Naxalism had opened new possibilities for peace, trust and development in the remote areas of Bastar.
The Chief Minister said that tribal brothers and sisters in Bastar had faced the serious challenge of Naxalism for more than four decades. Naxalite violence had made it difficult to provide basic facilities such as roads, electricity, drinking water, education, healthcare and communication in several inaccessible areas. Development projects faced obstacles, and local residents had to endure numerous difficulties.
He said that major success against Naxalism had been achieved under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, through the firm resolve of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, and the indomitable courage and valour of security personnel. The coordinated efforts of the central and state governments were now creating a new environment of peace and development in Bastar.
The Chief Minister said that development work was progressing rapidly in areas where Naxalite violence had previously made such efforts challenging. The expansion of roads, electricity, drinking water, education, healthcare and communication facilities was advancing. The government was fully committed to connecting remote villages with the mainstream of development.
He said that the state government’s objective was to ensure that basic facilities reached every village in Bastar and that residents received better opportunities in education, healthcare, employment and livelihoods. The government was continuously working with the resolve that the benefits of development schemes should reach the last person in society.
The Chief Minister said that despite difficult circumstances, the tribal communities of Bastar had preserved their rich culture, traditions and values. It was now time for the younger generation of Bastar to advance through its talent and capabilities in the new atmosphere of peace and development and play an important role in the progress of the state and the country.
Chhattisgarh’s Natural Resources and Hardworking People Are Its Greatest Strengths
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Chhattisgarh was a state rich in natural resources and opportunities. It possessed abundant mineral wealth, extensive forest areas, fertile agricultural land and considerable potential for industrial development. However, the greatest strength of the state was its simple, warm-hearted, hardworking and talented people.
He said that the warmth, hard work, cultural richness and social harmony of the people of Chhattisgarh had given the state a distinct identity in the country. The popular saying, “Chhattisgarhiya Sable Badhiya” (the people of Chhattisgarh are the best), was not merely a popular expression but reflected the simplicity, diligence and proud values of the people of the state.
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Chhattisgarh would play an important role in fulfilling this national vision. The state government was continuously working across all sectors, including agriculture, industry, education, healthcare, infrastructure, technology, employment and tribal development.
He said that the government’s priorities included the proper utilisation of the state’s natural resources, providing opportunities for the talent of young people, empowering women, ensuring prosperity for farmers and delivering the benefits of development to the last person in society. Public participation and the cooperation of the people of the state were the most important elements of this development journey.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that, with the affection, cooperation and blessings of the people, Chhattisgarh would reach new heights of development in the coming years and make a leading contribution to building a developed India.
Chief Minister Shri Sai extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of the Surguja region and the entire state on the birth centenary celebrations of Baba Kartik Oraon and the launch of various development projects.
On this occasion, Tribal Development Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam said that Baba Kartik Oraon was a great leader of the tribal community, an incisive thinker and a visionary leader. He had undertaken historic work to increase awareness about education among tribal communities, preserve their cultural identity and strengthen social organisation.
Shri Netam said that Baba Kartik Oraon had made the tribal community aware of its rights and explained the importance of education and the power of organisation. His efforts had generated a new sense of awareness and self-confidence in the community. He said that Baba Kartik Oraon’s thoughts and ideals continued to inspire tribal communities to unite and advance on the path of progress.
Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade said that Baba Kartik Oraon had dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the tribal community and the protection of its rights. He had made significant contributions to education, social awareness and strengthening the cultural identity of tribal communities.
Smt. Rajwade said that Baba Kartik Oraon had effectively raised the voice of tribal communities in Parliament and consistently fought to protect their interests. His life inspired the younger generation to pursue education, take pride in their culture and contribute to the development of society.
Tourism Minister Shri Rajesh Agrawal said that Baba Kartik Oraon had created a new sense of awareness among tribal communities through the power of education. He had conveyed the message of education, organisation, social awareness and cultural preservation to the tribal community throughout the Surguja region and beyond.
Shri Agrawal said that Baba Kartik Oraon had established a distinct identity at the national level through his talent and leadership abilities. He had undertaken remarkable work to preserve the glorious heritage of tribal communities and connect them with the mainstream of development. His contribution would always be remembered.
Member of Parliament Shri Chintamani Maharaj said that Baba Kartik Oraon was a great public leader who dedicated his entire life to the dignity, rights and development of tribal communities. Along with achieving remarkable accomplishments in education, he effectively raised issues concerning tribal interests at the national level.
MP Shri Maharaj said that the deep reverence and respect for Baba Kartik Oraon among tribal communities, even decades later, reflected his great personality and the historic work he had undertaken for society. His thoughts and ideals continued to provide direction to the community.
He expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai for participating virtually in Baba Kartik Oraon’s birth centenary celebrations, unveiling his life-size statue and announcing the renaming of the Government Engineering College after him. He also thanked the Chief Minister for providing the Sitapur region with a four-lane road and various other development projects.
On the occasion, MLA Smt. Uddeshwari Paikra, MLA Shri Ramkumar Toppo, Ambikapur Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt. Manjusha Bhagat, Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram President Shri Satyendra Singh, Patron Shri Ganesh Ram Bhagat, Committee President Dr. Azad Bhagat, other public representatives, dignitaries, officers, employees and a large number of local residents were present.
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