Historic push to transform Chhattisgarh into a skill hub: CM Vishnu Deo Sai says – “A developed Chhattisgarh is only possible through inclusive public participation”
“Skill India Mission has reshaped the country, now Chhattisgarh is scripting a new chapter” – CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur, July 20, 2025:
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the state government is relentlessly working towards the goal of “Viksit Bharat – Viksit Chhattisgarh” (Developed India – Developed Chhattisgarh), and that active participation of every section of society is essential to realize this vision. The Chief Minister was addressing the valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025 held at Rungta University in Bhilai today.
CM Sai said that this event will be etched in golden letters in history. The Gold Book of World Records team has officially certified the training of 8,183 participants conducted within a week and handed over the certificate to the institution. He extended his congratulations to the Rungta University management for organising this remarkable initiative free of cost and reiterated the state government’s firm commitment to empowering the youth with skills and self-reliance.
Describing Bhilai as both a Steel City and Mini India, the Chief Minister lauded Rungta University’s exceptional contribution to the field of education.
He added that Chhattisgarh has witnessed remarkable progress across sectors over the past 25 years, and the state is celebrating this year as its Silver Jubilee Year. He credited the expansion of higher education institutions in the state to the tenure of former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh. Currently, the state boasts 15 medical colleges, an IIT, an IIM, IIIT, CIPET, AIIMS, and a National Law University.
The CM emphasized that the state government has made parallel strides in both education and healthcare sectors. Over the past 18 months, significant efforts have been made towards establishing good governance. With the majority of government services now digitized, transparency has increased, corruption has been effectively curbed, and revenue has seen notable growth.
“Chhattisgarh is a state rich in mineral wealth, and achieving self-reliance will require collective efforts from all citizens,” the CM said. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Skill India Mission, and noted how India—ranked 10th globally in economic terms at the time—has now climbed to the 4th position within a decade.
CM Sai stated that mega placement camps have created a strong equilibrium between employers and skilled youth across the country, which is a testament to the success of the double-engine government. He termed the Prime Minister Internship Scheme as highly beneficial, pointing out that it not only gives youth valuable work experience but also provides monetary incentives, thereby opening up new possibilities for employment.
Sharing key updates from the state’s New Industrial Policy, he said the policy has created targeted employment opportunities for the youth. Notably, industries that provide employment to more than 1,000 local youth are eligible for special subsidies. Additional incentives have been earmarked for establishing industries in backward regions such as Bastar and Surguja.
The CM informed that Skill India Mission activities have already commenced across all 32 development blocks of Bastar. In addition, to promote Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, the government has simplified the industrial clearance process through a robust Single Window System. This has accelerated investment inflow, with the state having already received investment proposals worth over ₹6 lakh crore, which are currently under various stages of approval.
Highlighting recent industrial strides, CM Sai said that a pharmaceutical company was inaugurated in Naya Raipur. This was made possible due to two reasons—first, Naya Raipur has been developed as a dedicated Pharma Hub, and second, the Industrial Policy offers specific benefits to the pharmaceutical sector. He also mentioned the recent groundbreaking of the state’s first semiconductor unit, made possible due to special incentives for investments in AI and IT sectors. Furthermore, India’s first AI Data Center Park has been established in Naya Raipur by the state government.
CM Sai praised the contribution of private institutions, especially Rungta University, for being an equal partner in the government’s mission to transform Chhattisgarh into a national skill hub. He congratulated the trainees and the entire university family for this historic accomplishment.
The valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025, held at Rungta University, marked a historic step towards establishing Chhattisgarh as a leading skill hub. Online training imparted to 8,183 youth across various skill domains. 25 selected participants were felicitated with commendation certificates by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
Joint degree programmes launched in partnership with Google, IBM, and the International Council.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Harvard and Cambridge Universities. The World Book of Records officially certified the highest number of skill trainings conducted in a single week.
On this occasion, MP Vijay Baghel and MLA Rikesh Sen also addressed the gathering and praised the state government and the university for organizing such a forward-thinking event. They described it as a “transformative initiative” that will equip the youth of Chhattisgarh with skills to compete at a global level.
Chancellor Santosh Rungta delivered the welcome address and briefed the audience about the university’s ongoing activities. He affirmed that the university is fully aligned with the state government’s vision and is consistently working to position Chhattisgarh as a global skill hub.
The event was graced by Commissioner S.N. Rathore, Inspector General R.G. Garg, Collector Abhijeet Singh, along with professors, domain experts, faculty members, and a large number of students from Rungta University.
