CM Sai meets Union Minister Mandaviya to discuss boost in sports and healthcare education in Chhattisgarh

In a major move to enhance sports and healthcare education in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, in New Delhi on Thursday.

The meeting resulted in several key proposals receiving in-principle support from the Centre.

It was agreed during the discussion that the popular Bastar Olympics will now be rebranded as the “Khelo India Tribal Games” beginning this year. The initiative is aimed at providing national-level recognition to tribal athletes and showcasing Chhattisgarh’s indigenous sports culture to a wider audience, including on the global stage.

Chief Minister Sai also proposed the establishment of 220-bed medical and nursing colleges in Raipur and Bilaspur to improve the quality of healthcare education and increase access to medical services in the state. Union Minister Mandaviya assured that the Centre would take a favourable decision soon and initiate steps toward granting approval.

Additionally, CM Sai urged the establishment of a regional centre of the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) in Chhattisgarh. He also called for the development of new stadiums and training centres to strengthen the state’s sports infrastructure. In response, the Union Minister assured that approvals for these proposals would be fast-tracked.

The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Subodh Singh, and Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rahul Bhagat.