Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired the first meeting of the Chhattisgarh Other Backward Classes Advisory Council on Tuesday. The state government has established the Council to provide guidance regarding the protection, welfare, and overall progress of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Chief Minister urged all OBC communities to take the benefits of the most of government schemes. He stressed the importance of focusing on education, social development, economic growth, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for the OBCs.

Initiatives related to Gauthans and RIPA

Chief Minister Baghel highlighted ongoing income-generating initiatives aimed at providing better employment opportunities through Gauthans and Rural Industrial Parks. He also encouraged suggestions for carrying out additional activities at RIPA.

The Chief Minister specifically emphasised the importance of focusing on vegetable trade-related ventures, such as the installation of dryers and packing facilities, in regions with significant vegetable production.

The Chief Minister extended a warm welcome to all the participants of the council meeting, expressing satisfaction with the Council's efforts to ensure representation from various sub-castes and regions within the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He commended the Hardiya Sahu Samaj for their initiatives promoting mass marriages and the Sonkar Samaj for their contributions to the field of education.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need to acknowledge and support skilled individuals associated with business and employment in other OBC sections, urging society to encourage and uplift their recognition.

During the Advisory Council meeting, all members expressed gratitude for the establishment of the council and its inclusive representation of the Other Backward Classes. The Chief Minister announced various developmental works, including the approval of 15 new post-matric hostels for students from the OBC community in the upcoming year 2023–24. These hostels comprise eight for boys and seven for girls.

Council members recommended an increase in the number of hostels to cater to more students' educational needs. Additionally, they suggested arranging coaching programs for PET, PMT, PSC, and other competitive exams within the hostels, aimed at benefiting OBC students across the state.

Tribal and Scheduled Caste, Backward Class, and Minority Development Minister and Vice Chairman of the Council Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Urban Administration Minister Dr. Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Parliamentary Secretaries Parasnath Rajwada and Vinod Sevanlal Chandrakar, MLA Dhanendra Sahu, Dr. Vinay Jaiswal, Ramkumar Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Subrat Sahoo, Secretary of Tribal and Scheduled Castes Development Department D.D. Singh, Commissioner Shammi Abidi Abidi, and members of the council were present.