Chhattisgarh’s Women Gain Financial Power Through Mahtari Vandan Yojana, Says CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Speaking at a gathering in Bilaspur on the occasion of the Teej festival, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the steady rise of women’s financial autonomy across the state. He noted that, thanks to a bundle of government schemes, more women are now holding money directly in their own bank accounts.

One flagship initiative, the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, pours Rs 1,000 into a beneficiary’s account every month. As of August, the 31st installment had been credited to over 6.7 million women, amounting to roughly Rs 631 crore in that single payout. “We’ve already transferred more than Rs 30,000 crore in the past two‑and‑a‑half years,” the CM said, adding that the cash flow is changing household dynamics – no longer do women have to wait for a husband’s earnings.

But the cash hand‑out is just one piece of the puzzle. Sai reminded the audience of other measures such as gas‑cylinder connections in women’s names, Jan Dhan bank accounts, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, all aimed at cementing economic independence.

Looking ahead, the state government is rolling out two more ambitious concepts: “Lakhpati Didis” and “Drone Didis.” The former envisions women earning a lakh rupees or more annually, while the latter focuses on skilling women for modern, tech‑driven jobs – even operating drones for agriculture or surveying.

Special attention is also being given to the Bastar region, where women are being encouraged to start small enterprises and receive training that could turn them into self‑reliant earners. “Their blessings keep us motivated,” Sai added.

In addition to welfare talk, the CM announced a Rs 30 lakh fund for the upcoming Beltara Mahotsav and proposed renaming the village of Chorahadevari in Bilha block to “Ram Devari.” These local gestures, he said, complement the larger goal of boosting women’s participation in the state’s economic engine.

All in all, the message was clear: direct financial assistance combined with skill‑building programmes are slowly but surely reshaping the lives of Chhattisgarh’s women, turning them from dependents into active contributors and, eventually, into the “Lakhpati” and “Drone” leaders of tomorrow.