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Raipur, Aug 24 (PTI): Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday said providing quality education and equal opportunities to children of workers was essential to realising the vision of a developed Chhattisgarh and a developed India.

Addressing a felicitation ceremony of the Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Yojana at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium here, Sai said workers formed the foundation of development and ensuring their children's education, security and prosperity was a priority of his government.

During the programme, the CM felicitated students who excelled in academics, sports, arts and co-curricular activities. More than Rs 39.67 crore in assistance under various labour welfare schemes was also transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to the bank accounts of 1,45,841 workers, officials said.

Sai said he was happy to see children from workers' families confidently communicating in English and excelling in different fields.

"Their achievements show that when children get the right opportunities and quality education, circumstances cannot stop talent from progressing," he said.

The Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Yojana, launched last year with 100 students, has now been expanded to 200 pupils, Sai noted.

Under the scheme, talented children selected from all 33 districts are provided free education from Classes 6 to 12 at residential institutions, including Rajkumar College, Delhi Public School (DPS) and Rungta Public School (RPS).

The chief minister said the scheme was not limited to admission in good schools, but aimed at providing children with a conducive educational environment, confidence and equal opportunities to pursue their aspirations.

He said financial constraints should not prevent talented children of workers from receiving quality education.

Highlighting the contribution of workers to the state's development, Sai said their labour was behind roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure projects.

He said 67 welfare schemes were being implemented through three boards of the Labour Department, covering education, healthcare, maternity assistance, support for persons with disabilities, pensions, skill development, employment and housing.

Benefits under these schemes were being transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts, he maintained.

Interacting with students, Sai shared experiences from his life and encouraged them to dream big, work hard and remain disciplined. He said they could aspire to become doctors, engineers, scientists, administrative officers, entrepreneurs or serve society through other professions, but education remained the foundation for achieving their goals.

Chhattisgarh now has premier institutions such as IIT, IIM and AIIMS, while provisions were also being made for higher education loans and assistance to children of workers pursuing studies abroad, he said.

The chief minister said new educational opportunities were being created in remote and formerly Naxal-affected areas, including Education Cities at Orchha and Jagargunda in Bastar.

Speaking on the occasion, Labour Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan said more than Rs 774 crore had been transferred to workers through DBT under various welfare schemes over the past two-and-a-half years.

The government was working on initiatives to support workers in emerging occupations, including assistance to parcel-delivery workers for purchasing vehicles and financial support for livestock herders, he said.

Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma said the Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Yojana was providing children of workers with an opportunity to pursue their aspirations through quality education.

Students also shared their experiences of the scheme. Atish from Bijapur, studying at DPS, Rajnandgaon, said he aspired to become an IAS officer, while Ishika Dahre from Kabirdham, studying at RPS, said the scheme had significantly improved her confidence in speaking English.

The chief minister later had a meal with the students and interacted with them informally. The students asked him about his childhood, education, favourite food and experiences.

Sai urged them to remain curious, disciplined and committed to learning and said their success would bring pride to their families and the state. PTI COR RSY

(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)