Chhattisgarh 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.
He was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025 held at Rungta University in Bhilai.
Calling the event historic, the Chief Minister noted that it will be remembered in golden letters. The Gold Book of World Records certified the training of 8,183 participants conducted within a week and handed over the official record to the institution. CM Sai congratulated the university’s management for organizing the initiative free of cost and emphasized the state government’s strong commitment to empowering the youth with skills and self-reliance.
Referring to Bhilai as both a Steel City and Mini India, the Chief Minister praised Rungta University’s contribution to education in Chhattisgarh. He highlighted the development that has taken place over the last 25 years and mentioned that the state is observing its Silver Jubilee Year. He also credited the growth of higher education institutions to the tenure of former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, pointing to the presence of 15 medical colleges, an IIT, IIM, IIIT, CIPET, AIIMS, and a National Law University in the state.
He stated that the government has progressed simultaneously in the fields of education and healthcare. In the last 18 months, efforts have been made toward good governance, and most services are now digitized. “With the majority of government services now digitized, transparency has increased, corruption has been effectively curbed, and revenue has seen notable growth,” he said.
Pointing to the state’s mineral-rich nature, the Chief Minister added, “Chhattisgarh is a state rich in mineral wealth, and achieving self-reliance will require collective efforts from all citizens.” He also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the Skill India Mission and observed that India, ranked 10th in the world economy then, has now risen to 4th place within a decade.
CM Sai remarked that mega placement camps have helped balance the needs of employers and job-seeking youth across India, a success made possible by the double-engine government. He called the Prime Minister Internship Scheme immensely helpful, saying it not only offers valuable experience to the youth but also provides monetary benefits and employment opportunities.
Updating the audience on the state’s New Industrial Policy, he said it has led to employment-focused growth, particularly for local youth. Industries employing more than 1,000 local residents are being given special subsidies. He said there are extra incentives for industries being set up in backward districts like Bastar and Surguja.
He mentioned that activities under the Skill India Mission have already been launched in all 32 development blocks of Bastar. To further improve the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, the government has streamlined industrial approvals via a Single Window System. As a result, investment proposals worth over ₹6 lakh crore are now under various stages of clearance.
Citing recent industrial achievements, he spoke about the inauguration of a pharmaceutical company in Naya Raipur, made possible by its status as a dedicated pharma hub and the sector-specific benefits outlined in the industrial policy. He also highlighted the state’s first semiconductor unit and India’s first AI Data Center Park, both located in Naya Raipur, supported by incentives for the AI and IT sectors.
CM Sai appreciated the efforts of private institutions like Rungta University for aligning themselves with the government’s mission to turn Chhattisgarh into a skill capital of India. He congratulated the trainees and the university team for their contribution to this milestone.
The closing event of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025 at Rungta University represented a major step in making Chhattisgarh a recognized skill hub. Online training was provided to 8,183 youth across different domains. Twenty-five outstanding participants were felicitated with commendation certificates by CM Vishnu Deo Sai. Joint degree programs were launched in collaboration with Google, IBM, and the International Council. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Harvard and Cambridge Universities, and the World Book of Records officially recognized the largest number of skill trainings conducted in a single week.
On this occasion, MP Vijay Baghel and MLA Rikesh Sen commended both the state government and the university for hosting a visionary event. They described it as a transformative initiative to help Chhattisgarh’s youth succeed at the global level.
Chancellor Santosh Rungta welcomed the guests and updated the gathering on the university’s key efforts. He reaffirmed the university’s full alignment with the state government’s vision of turning Chhattisgarh into a global skill hub.
The ceremony was attended by Commissioner S.N. Rathore, Inspector General R.G. Garg, Collector Abhijeet Singh, university professors, domain experts, and a large number of students and faculty members from Rungta University.
