51,000 ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ Lamps Lit Across Kanker Under Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
Raipur, September 2026: As part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to mark the completion of 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service, the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme was organised across Kanker district on Wednesday evening.
At the historic PM Shri Government Narhar Dev Higher Secondary School ground in Kanker district headquarters, a map of India was created and 51,000 lamps were lit simultaneously on it. The illuminated map of India became the main attraction of the programme.
The event was inaugurated by chief guest and MLA Vikram Dev Usendi, while Kanker MLA Asharam Netam presided over the programme.
Zila Panchayat president Kiran Nareti, Nagar Palika president Arun Kaushik, CCF Vivekanand Jha, Collector Kundan Kumar, Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha, Satish Latia, Mahesh Jain and other public representatives and administrative officials were present on the occasion. Public representatives lit lamps to mark the beginning of the programme and viewed the 51,000 lamps arranged on the map of India.
Addressing the gathering, chief guest Vikram Dev Usendi referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public life and various government schemes being implemented for the country’s development and public welfare.
He said efforts were being made to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reached the last person in society in the spirit of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.” He highlighted schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Usendi also spoke about vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic and efforts to provide assistance to families in need.
He said lighting the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ for Prime Minister Narendra Modi symbolised people’s good wishes and respect for him. He wished the Prime Minister good health and a long life, as well as continued development of the country.
Presiding over the programme, Kanker MLA Asharam Netam said Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the country’s 1.4 billion people as his family. He said that, just as the head of a family is responsible for understanding the needs of family members and working for their welfare, efforts were being made under the Prime Minister’s leadership to provide essential facilities to families through various government schemes.
He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for providing permanent houses to needy families, the Jal Jeevan Mission for supplying water to households, cleanliness initiatives for creating a hygienic environment, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi for providing financial assistance to farmers and Ayushman Bharat for health security.
He also mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for connecting villages through roads and various Ujjwala and electricity-related schemes aimed at providing household facilities and lighting. Foodgrain assistance schemes, he said, were helping provide foodgrains to families in need.
Collector Kundan Kumar briefed the gathering about various activities and 13 major initiatives to be organised over a month under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. A video showcasing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25-year public service journey was screened during the programme, while a calendar related to the campaign was also released.
Children dressed in attire resembling Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented roses to public representatives and raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” The entire venue witnessed an atmosphere of patriotism and enthusiasm.
Former MLA Devalal Dugga, Sumitra Markole, Zila Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Haresh Mandavi, Additional Collector Jitendra Kurre, Raja Pandey, Brijmohan Tiwari, Ashok Walecha, Tankeshwar Jain and other public representatives, officials, employees, students, prominent citizens and media representatives were present at the event.
