CM Sai Reaffirms Focus on Women's Empowerment

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 10 July 2026

Raipur Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday highlighted the critical role women play in a nation-building exercise in the backdrop of the Raipur state's flagship community radio program ‘Didi Ke Goth’ that is celebrating its one year anniversary. The Chief Minister once again reiterated the state government's determination to empower the women and said that the empowerment of women is a key focus in Chhattisgarh's development agenda and is crucial for the development of stronger families, communities and economy.

Sai spoke to the women from self-help groups (SHGs) and the government officials and community representatives at the event and said Indian culture has always treated women with respect and dignity. He said that women have been treated with reverence since ancient times and spoke of the worship of goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi and said that these goddesses symbolize courage, knowledge and prosperity respectively.

The Chief Minister said that education is one of the greatest weapons in the hands of a woman to empower her, but also the entire family and society. He emphasized that not only are women contributing to the welfare of their households, they are also playing an important role in social progress and sustainable development.

Key Highlights:

• CM Sai reaffirmed women’s empowerment as a key priority for Chhattisgarh’s development
• ‘Didi Ke Goth’ completed one year of empowering rural women through awareness and livelihood support
• The programme has strengthened self-help groups by promoting financial inclusion and community participation

The ‘Didi Ke Goth' program is a monthly radio show of Panchayat and Rural Development Department launched as part of the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) in August 2025. The program was launched to raise awareness amongst the rural women on government welfare schemes, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and community participation.

In the last one year the radio program has become a venue for women from the self-help groups to share their success stories, exchange experiences and get knowledge about livelihood options. Every month an episode has been dedicated to themes like Lakhpati Didi, Drone Didi, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), financial literacy, cyber security, gender equality, Saras Mela, promotion of local products (Chhattiskala).

The occasion was also marked with celebration of the achievements of the program in its first year and also the contribution of women who actively participated in enhancing rural livelihoods through self-help groups. The Government officials shared their plans to continue expanding the program to benefit more women in the state and increase awareness of the opportunities to make income and government support programs.

Public representatives, officials from Panchayat and Rural Development Department, women's self-help groups, civil society representatives participated in the event. The program has helped create better communication among rural communities with government departments and increased women's involvement in the local development programs, the state government said.

The celebration is taking place at a time when the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is spearheading developmental drives in the state. He opened various facilities with an investment of more than ₹103 crore at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur, earlier this week, saying that the new facilities would augment the healthcare services of the state of Chhattisgarh. He was also a part of the two-day 'Chintan Shivir 3.0' in IIM Raipur where the state Cabinet discussed governance reforms, policy co-ordination and administrative strategies to realize the vision of a developed Chhattisgarh.