Raipur: On the occasion of National Youth Day, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honoured eight outstanding young achievers and one voluntary organisation with the prestigious Chhattisgarh Yuva Ratna Award for their exemplary contributions across diverse fields. The awards were presented at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare at the New Rest House in Raipur.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sai recalled the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda on his 163rd birth anniversary, highlighting his role in taking India’s cultural and spiritual heritage to the global मंच at a young age. He praised the initiative of recognising youth talent and said that India is a nation of young people whose potential must be nurtured and encouraged. He urged the youth to follow Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and move towards their goals with strong willpower, dedication, hard work and commitment.
Youth Power Driving Chhattisgarh’s Progress
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Arun Sao said that Swami Vivekananda’s vision continues to inspire millions of young Indians. He noted that the large number of applications received for the Yuva Ratna Award reflects the abundance of talent in Chhattisgarh. The state government, he said, is committed to providing opportunities and recognition to such youth so they can contribute meaningfully to society.
He informed that for the first time, the state has instituted the Yuva Ratna Award to honour individuals aged between 15 and 29 years for excellence in personal achievement and social service across various sectors.
Rigorous Selection Process
Welcoming the dignitaries, Secretary of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department Yashwant Kumar said that selecting awardees was a challenging task due to the high quality of applications received from across the state. He added that Chhattisgarh’s youth are excelling in multiple domains, and the department has launched these awards to acknowledge and highlight their contributions.
Awardees Across Diverse Fields
On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured:
- Piyush Jaiswal (Bemetara) – Youngest astrophysics scientist and PhD scholar, gold medallist at NASO Olympiad
- Shilpa Sahu (Kanker) – Outstanding contribution in the social sector
- Amit Yadav (Surguja) – Excellence in literature
- Mrinal Vidani (Mahasamund) – Innovation
- Paridhi Sharma (Durg) – Excellence in education
- Sanju Devi (Bilaspur) – International Kabaddi player (Sports)
- Sachin Kunhare (Kawardha) – Art and culture
- Aru Sahu – Folk art
In addition, the Yuva Star Seva Samiti, Khurtuli (Dhamtari district) was honoured for its remarkable work in health, environment, cleanliness, literacy, women empowerment, social awareness, de-addiction, voter awareness and conservation of water resources.
Officials Present
Chairman of the State Youth Commission Vishw Vijay Singh Tomar, Raipur District Panchayat President Naveen Kumar Agrawal, Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Welfare Rashmi Thakur, and several senior officials were present at the ceremony.
The event reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to empowering youth and recognising their role in shaping a progressive and inclusive Chhattisgarh.
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