CM Vishnu Deo Sai attends state-level National Service Scheme Foundation Day and felicitation ceremony
Calls upon NSS volunteers to play a major role in Seva Sankalp Abhiyan through cleanliness, blood donation, tree plantation, water conservation and de-addiction campaigns
Six lakh students to receive AI training under Chief Minister AI Mission; Rs 500 crore allocated for the initiative
State targets promotion of 5,000 startups by 2030; youth should become job creators, not merely job seekers, says CM
New industrial policy prioritises employment for local youth; investment proposals worth over Rs 8.25 lakh crore received in 18 months
Raipur, September 2026: Youth power is the greatest strength in building a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Thursday, emphasising that the energy, talent, innovative potential and spirit of service among young people can bring about major changes in society and the nation when channelled in the right direction.
Addressing the state-level National Service Scheme (NSS) Foundation Day and felicitation ceremony at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur, Sai said the NSS was a powerful platform for instilling values of service, discipline, leadership, social responsibility and nation-building among young people.
The Chief Minister extended his greetings to all NSS volunteers and felicitated volunteers who have undertaken outstanding service activities in different fields. The state-level programme was organised by the NSS Cell of the Higher Education Department.
Sai said the NSS had evolved into a widespread movement connecting millions of young people with community service and nation-building. An NSS volunteer does not merely participate in activities but learns to understand society and the circumstances around them with greater sensitivity.
Understanding people’s problems, taking responsibility, working as part of a team and coming forward to find solutions are values that equip young people to face challenges in every sphere of life, he said.
He stressed that no act of service should be considered insignificant. A small initiative by a young person can often inspire an entire community. Taking up a cleanliness drive in a village, donating blood to someone in need, planting and caring for a tree, creating awareness about water conservation or encouraging someone to stay away from drugs can lay the foundation for larger social change, he said.
Sai said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, platforms such as ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ have been created to provide young people with greater opportunities to participate in nation-building. These platforms offer opportunities for leadership, skill development and experience-based learning.
Referring to Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Sai said Mandaviya himself had been an NSS volunteer during his student days, demonstrating how the values of service and leadership acquired through NSS can remain with an individual throughout life.
Youth Urged to Play Major Role in Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
The Chief Minister called upon NSS volunteers to actively participate in the ongoing Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in the state. He said the basic spirit of NSS and the campaign was the same — taking the initiative to serve and encouraging society to participate in service activities.
Sai said a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan was being conducted in the state from September 17 to October 17 to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service. NSS volunteers can play an important role in turning initiatives related to cleanliness, blood donation, tree plantation, water conservation, de-addiction and health awareness into mass movements.
He urged volunteers to connect people with these campaigns not only on college and university campuses but also in villages, settlements and urban areas.
Strengthening Youth Confidence Is Government Priority
Sai said the biggest strength of Chhattisgarh was its youth and that the state government was continuously expanding opportunities in education, government service, employment, entrepreneurship, sports and modern technology.
He said strengthening young people’s confidence in recruitment examinations had remained a government priority. The Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board has been constituted for recruitment to Class III and Class IV posts, while strict arrangements have been introduced to prevent cheating and the use of unfair means in recruitment examinations.
The Chief Minister said around 7,000 young people had been recruited in the police department, while recruitment processes for lecturers, teachers and assistant teachers were underway. Recruitment for 1,235 posts in power companies was also being taken forward, creating opportunities for youth with engineering, technical and other qualifications.
In higher education, appointment letters had been issued to 430 laboratory attendants, he said. The government was also working to expand employment opportunities in the private sector, with employment fairs planned after the monsoon season.
New Industrial Policy to Create Employment Opportunities
Sai said the state’s Industrial Development Policy 2024-30 gives special priority to employment generation along with investment promotion.
He said Chhattisgarh had received investment proposals worth more than Rs 8.25 lakh crore over the past 18 months, with work already beginning on several projects.
The government had taken special care while framing the policy to ensure that investments coming into the state directly benefit local youth. Special provisions have been incorporated to encourage industries to provide employment to local people, including incentives for enterprises that employ 1,000 local residents.
Better Facilities for Competitive Exam Aspirants
The Chief Minister said the government was also focusing on providing talented young people with the resources and environment needed to advance their careers.
The capacity of the Tribal Youth Hostel in Delhi for tribal students preparing for competitive examinations has been increased to 200 seats. Sai noted that 13 students from the hostel had cleared the UPSC preliminary examination this year.
He said Nalanda campuses were being established across the state to provide young people preparing for competitive examinations with better study environments, books and modern facilities. The objective is to ensure that financial or geographical circumstances do not become barriers to the aspirations of talented youth.
Youth Should Become Job Creators
Sai said the approach towards employment must evolve with changing times. Young people should not remain merely job seekers but should also become job creators through innovation, talent and entrepreneurship.
The state government is creating an ecosystem conducive to startups and entrepreneurship. Under the Innovation and Startup Promotion Policy 2025-30, the state has set a target of promoting 5,000 startups by 2030.
Through the Chief Minister Startup and Nipun Mission, youth are being connected with entrepreneurship, skills and emerging technologies. The government wants young people to convert their ideas into enterprises and play a leading role in building Chhattisgarh’s new economy, he said.
Six Lakh Students to Receive AI Training
Sai said the world was rapidly moving towards artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, which would play an increasingly important role in education, industry, healthcare, agriculture and administration.
He said Rs 500 crore had been allocated for the Chief Minister AI Mission, under which six lakh students would be trained in artificial intelligence. The initiative is aimed at preparing students for future employment and entrepreneurship opportunities by providing them with an understanding of emerging technologies.
Opportunities for Sportspersons
The Chief Minister said opportunities for talented youth were also being expanded in sports. The government has cleared the way for government employment for 156 outstanding sportspersons.
He said the government wanted to ensure that athletes who work hard and bring recognition to the state and country receive due recognition and adequate opportunities to progress.
Youth to Play Key Role in Viksit Bharat
Sai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. The vision of Viksit Bharat is not merely a government objective but a shared commitment of every citizen, particularly the country’s youth.
He said a developed Chhattisgarh would play an important role in the journey towards a developed India. The energy, talent, hard work, innovation and spirit of service of the state’s youth would be among the greatest strengths in this journey.
The values of service and social responsibility being cultivated among young people through NSS would help prepare them to provide capable leadership in nation-building in the years ahead, he said.
NSS a Powerful Platform for Guiding Youth Energy: Higher Education Minister
Higher Education Minister Tank Ram Verma extended his greetings on NSS Foundation Day and said Chhattisgarh was progressing rapidly under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
He said the National Education Policy 2020 had been implemented in the state and continuous efforts were being made to link education with employment and skills.
The minister said the real strength of a state lies not merely in its physical resources but in the awareness, energy and sensitivity of its youth towards society. NSS provides young people with an opportunity to channel their energy into positive and constructive activities.
It develops leadership, teamwork, decision-making abilities and social responsibility, helping young people grow into patriotic and responsible citizens, he said.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Sai felicitated NSS volunteers who had undertaken outstanding work in various fields and appreciated their contributions to society.
Higher Education Secretary Avinash Champawat, Commissioner Rita Yadav, officials associated with NSS, representatives of various universities and colleges, programme officers and a large number of NSS volunteers were present on the occasion.
