Mahtari Vandan Yojana Provides Economic Support to Women: CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Raipur, March 8, 2026– On International Women’s Day, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended greetings to women of the state while addressing the grand Mahtari Vandan Sammelan–2026 organised at Lal Bahadur Shastri Mini Stadium in Bastar on Sunday.

“The strength of Chhattisgarh’s mothers is the greatest strength of society, adding that women’s economic and social empowerment is the foundation of a developed state and remains central to every government decision,” said  Sai.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released the 25th instalment of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, transferring Rs 641.58 crore to the bank accounts of 69.48 lakh women. With this, the total assistance provided under the scheme has reached Rs 16,237 crore.

Recalling the launch of the scheme on March 10, 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  Sai said the promise of providing Rs 1,000 every month to every eligible woman has been consistently fulfilled for 25 months, with each beneficiary receiving Rs 25,000 so far.

Sai said the state government has made a budget provision of Rs 8,200 crore this year to ensure uninterrupted implementation of the scheme. The assistance is bringing visible changes in the lives of women, who are using the funds for children’s education, healthcare, household needs, savings and self-employment. This is strengthening financial stability in families and contributing to overall social development.

Sai said that due to the strong resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the courage of security forces, Naxalism has now reached its final phase. For the rehabilitation of families affected by Naxal violence and surrendered Naxalites, the state government has sanctioned 15,000 houses. He said a new environment of peace, development and trust is emerging in Bastar and other remote regions, where women’s participation is especially important.

The state government is also working at multiple levels to promote women’s dignity and social empowerment. In the past two years, 21,754 marriages have been conducted under the Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Yojana. Additionally, 368 Mahtari Sadans have been approved across the state—137 of which are completed—to serve as training, meeting and community activity centres for women at the Gram Panchayat level.

Additionally, more than 8 lakh women in the state have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’, and the government aims to increase this number to 10 lakh- emerging not just as participants but as new leaders of the rural economy. To enhance employment opportunities the Ready-to-Eat food production work through women self-help groups has been restarted and will be implemented gradually in the remaining districts.

Referring to Bastar, Sai said that under the Niyad Nellanar, healthcare facilities have been revived in Naxal-affected areas, closed schools have reopened, electricity has reached remote settlements, mobile towers are being installed, and clean drinking water and better roads are being provided. Besides road construction, the Chief Minister Bus Service Scheme has strengthened transport facilities in rural areas of Bastar and Surguja, making it easier for people to access education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

During the programme, Chief Minister Sai interacted via video conferencing with Neetu Sahu of Dhamtari,  Mithlesh Chaturvedi of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Saraswati Kenwat of Janjgir-Champa,  Anita Sahu of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, and Nidhi Jaiswal of Surguja.

Mithlesh Chaturvedi said that after her husband’s death, it became difficult to run the family. With government assistance and support from the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, she purchased an e-rickshaw and started earning a livelihood, enabling her to support her family with dignity.

Neetu Sahu from Dhamtari said that due to limited income from daily wage labour, saving for her daughters’ future was difficult. However, with the assistance from the scheme, she opened Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts for both daughters and began saving every month.

Similarly, Nidhi Jaiswal of Surguja saved the assistance to start a beauty parlour named “Nidhi Makeover”, while Anita Sahu of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi started a tailoring business and established “Anita Silai Centre.” Saraswati Kenwat of Janjgir-Champa also invested the funds in her family business to increase income.

Chief Minister  Sai said it is encouraging to see that funds from the Mahtari Vandan Yojana are becoming the foundation of progress for families.

On the occasion, the Women and Child Development Department also launched the “Lakshmi Sakhi Millet Cart.” Sai said rehabilitated women are being linked to this initiative and trained through agricultural colleges to prepare and sell millet-based food products, ensuring sustainable livelihood and financial benefits. Budget provisions have also been made to strengthen the rural economy, especially in Bastar and Surguja, by connecting women with animal husbandry, micro-enterprises, processing and local marketing.

Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade extended greetings on International Women’s Day and said the Mahtari Vandan Yojana was launched soon after the government was formed to fulfil the guarantees of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi. She noted that nearly 70 lakh women are benefiting from the scheme, while initiatives such as the Chhattisgarh Mahila Kosh and Saksham Yojana are also supporting women in starting self-employment.

Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap said that the regular monthly assistance under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana reflects the government’s commitment.

Jagdapur MLA  Kiran Deo said that under the leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, effective implementation of welfare schemes has enabled women to contribute significantly not only to family prosperity but also to the development of the state.

At the beginning of the programme, Women and Child Development Department Secretary Shammi Abidi presented information about departmental schemes.

A coffee table book on success stories of the schemes run by the Women and Child Development Department was also released on the occasion.

Among those present were Dantewada MLA  Chaitram Atami, Beverage Corporation Chairman  Srinivas Rao Maddi, Scheduled Tribe Commission Chairman Roopsingh Mandavi, District Panchayat President Vedvati Kashyap, Mayor, State Minor Forest Produce Federation Chairman  Roopsai Salam, State Seed Development Corporation Chairman  Chandrhas Chandrakar, Fishermen Welfare Board Chairman  Bharat Matiyara, Bastar District Central Cooperative Bank Chairman  Dinesh Kashyap, Mayor  Sanjay Pandey Bastar Division Commissioner  Doman Singh, IG  Sundarraj P., Women and Child Development Department Director Dr. Renuka Shrivastava, along with other senior officials.