Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Sant Shiromani Ravidas ji had envisioned a government where every person gets enough food and welfare of all is ensured. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has established such a system of governance in India, in which arrangements have been made for every person to have meals, a concrete house with basic amenities, education and health. Everyone’s welfare is also being ensured. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas is his main mantra. Chief Minister Chouhan was inaugurating the Sant Ravidas Samrasata Yatra from Baidhan, Singrauli. He offered prayers to Sant Ravidas after lighting the lamp and honoured Sant Bhaiyalal Bhagat, Ramashankar Das, Kanhaiya Lal, Sevadar Ramakant Das, Ramsajeevan Das and Premdas ji with angavastra, shawl and shriphal. The Chief Minister also performed pujan of the Jal Kalash and Mrida Paatra.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that Sant Ravidas ji was the pinnacle of the Bharatiya Sant Parampara who gave the mantra of social harmony, equanimity and equality. He strongly opposed caste discrimination, untouchability and evil practices. He was benevolent, kind and soft-spoken. He was a leather craftsman and used to distribute what he earned among the poor, that is why his father had asked him to leave the house, but he was born for devotion and charity. He was the harbinger of harmony. He protected Indian culture and life values.
On February 8, on the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas ji, I had announced in Sagar that a grand temple and memorial of Sant Ravidas ji would be built there at a cost of Rs 102 crore, which would give the message of peace, harmony and equanimity to the society. With the aim of creating awareness about the message and values of life of Sant Ravidas in the society, Samarsata Yatras are being taken out across the state, which will reach Sagar on August 12.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that Raths focused on the personality and work of Sant Ravidas will pass through 46 districts and 53 thousand villages of the state, in which soil from each village and water from 315 rivers will be taken to the foundation laying site. The Rath will have Swami Ravidas’s paduka, picture and kalash, which will be worshipped at different places. The message of social harmony is mentioned on the rath.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that on August 12, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the memorial of Sant Ravidas in Sagar. This grand monument will be built in Nagar style, in which his couplets and teachings will be engraved. The memorial will have four galleries. Out of the four galleries, the life of Saint Ravidas will be in the first gallery, the Interpretation Center in the second, his philosophy and teachings of Ravidassia Panth in the third and his Poetry and Literature Library and Sangat Hall in the fourth. A Jalkund, accommodation for devotees and food hall will be built near the memorial.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that Sant Ravidas used to say, ‘Aisa chahu Raj mein, Jahan Mile Saban ko Anna, Chhote Bade Sab Sam Basen Ravidaas Rahe Prasann”. Our governments are following his teachings literally. The government is giving free food grain to the poor, arrangements have been made for proper accommodation and treatment for all. Arrangements have been made for full meal for Rs.5 for the labourers. Chief Minister Chouhan said that hard workers and those doing petty work should not give money to any one, they should do there work fearlessly.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that according to the teachings of Sant Ravidas, work is being done for everyone’s welfare in the state. Women are being empowered. Ladli Bahna Yojana is a scheme to ensure dignity of women. Its amount will be gradually increased up to Rs.3000 per month. Education has been arranged for everyone in the state. All possible help is being given to the children for education and higher education. Seekho-Kamao scheme has been started for employment with training. The process of recruitment for one lakh government posts is going on in the state and recruitments will be made in 50 thousand more posts.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that our government is continuously working for the welfare of Scheduled Castes. In earlier governments, the budget provision for Scheduled Castes used to be Rs 286 crores, while in our government it has become Rs 26000 crores. Hostel, ashram school, scholarship and other facilities are being provided for SC students. Under the Sant Ravidas Swarozgar Yojana for employment, the government is providing loans ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs 50 lakh on its guarantee. Bhimrao Ambedkar Economic Welfare and Savitribai Phule Self-Help Scheme are being run. Sant Ravidas Global Skill Park is being set up in Bhopal where 6000 children will be trained.
Sant Bhaiyalal Bhagat Singh, who came from Kashi, said that it is a matter of good fortune for us to use the holy water of Sant Shiromani Ravidas Ji’s birth place in his memorial. He mentioned the messages of harmony and social welfare of Guru Ravidas ji. Member of Parliament Reeti Pathak said that today is a historic day, in which we have got an opportunity to honour saints who came from Kashi, the birthplace of Saint Ravidas. Today is the day of honouring public interest, victory and public spirit.
It is our good fortune that the soil and water collected from here will be used for the construction of Sant Ravidas ji’s memorial to be built in Sagar district. Member of Parliament Smt. Pathak expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Chouhan for the development of the area. Yatra in-charge Kailash Jatav said that starting from 5 districts, this yatra will pass through thousands of villages and reach the Sagar district carrying water and soil from the rivers of the entire state, which will be used in the memorial of Sant Ravidas ji.
