RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh will light 36 lakh lamps across the state on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Nar-endra Modi’s 76th birthday and his completion of 25 years in constitutional office, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Raipur, Sharma announced a month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, to be held from September 17 to October 17.
The campaign will commemorate Modi’s 25 years in constitutional positions, beginning with his tenure as Gujarat chief minister in October 2001 and continuing with his service as Prime Minister.
Sharma said the initiative would seek to evolve beyond a celebration into a mass movement focused on public ser-vice, dedication and nation-building, involving people across villages, cities, polling booths and families.
He said at least 100 lamps would be lit at every polling booth in the state. Families associated with each booth would participate in the programme and take a pledge to contribute towards the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
On October 7, a special torch would be installed at prominent locations in every district headquarters. LED screens would also be put up at major public places to facilitate a simultaneous address by Modi to all district headquarters on the day he completes 25 years as the head of a government, Sharma said.
A youth procession originating from Modi’s birthplace Vadnagar in Gujarat and travelling towards his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh will also pass through Chhattisgarh, entering the state through areas includ-ing Kawardha and Koriya.
The ‘Seva Mera Yogdan’ initiative will encourage BJP workers and citizens to participate in social and public service activities throughout the month.
Sharma said ‘Seva Ke Rang’ competitions would be held at public places, institutions and homes, featuring rangolis and exhibitions highlighting development and service initiatives over the past 25 years.
Drawing and speech competitions will also be organised nationwide for students of government and private schools, focusing on the Modi government’s service initiatives and the vision of a developed India.
Under ‘Namo Seva Gatha’, welfare initiatives and service programmes of the past 25 years will be presented through music and theatrical performances at schools, colleges, panchayats and community centres.
The campaign will identify 25 major service activities from which citizens can voluntarily choose one and undertake improvement or “face-lifting” work at public places in their areas. At least two locations in every Assembly constit-uency will be selected for visible transformation.
Under ‘Seva Setu’, service camps will be organised at block and Assembly constituency levels to provide people access to various Central and state welfare schemes at a single location.
Sharma said the month-long programme would aim to involve people across Chhattisgarh in activities linked to public service, social welfare and nation-building.