Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], October 6 : Gujarat is set to mark 24 years of remarkable development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who became the 14th Chief Minister of the state on October 7, 2001, according to the release.
To commemorate this milestone, the Gujarat government will hold a "Vikas Saptah" (Development Week) from October 7 to 15, focusing on the state's progress and initiatives across various sectors, announced Spokesperson Minister Rushikesh Patel at a press conference.
According to the release, the minister shared that the celebration will focus on 13 key topics, involving 10 state departments, with each day dedicated to a different theme. The events have been designed to include everyone: youth, women, and farmers, so that all sections of society can learn about and benefit from Gujarat's development initiatives.
Patel added that this year, during Vikas Saptah, a series of programs will be held across the state, including the Bharat Vikas Pratigya at the Legislative Assembly premises in the presence of the Chief Minister, Ministers, and senior officials. At the same time, the Bharat Vikas Pratigya will also be taken in Collectorate offices, other government offices, schools, and colleges across all 34 districts. To ensure broader participation, people will also be able to take the pledge online through the My.Gov portal.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will formally inaugurate the celebration through this program.
On 7th October, there will be the Youth Empowerment Program.
The minister stated that Vikas Saptah will feature a variety of programs across the state, including an exhibition of flagship schemes at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, an online quiz competition, essay competitions in schools and colleges, a lecture series, Padyatras (walks) at important locations, and daily Namotsav cultural programs. A special podcast with cricketers Hardik Pandya and Tilak Verma will also be organised.
A brainstorming session on youth participation will be held at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, bringing together over 1,000 students to reflect on and strengthen the resolve for Viksit Bharat@2047. Similar programs will also take place at 50 other locations across the state during the week.
On the same day, members of cooperative institutions will send over one crore postcards to express their gratitude to PM Modi for the benefits extended to the cooperative sector and the GST reforms. The Cooperative Department has prepared these postcards to highlight the socio-economic benefits and positive changes that have been brought to all sections of society through the Prime Minister's developmental initiatives. Since September 22, postcards have been written on various themes, including Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Garv Se Kaho Swadeshi Hai, Ayushman Bharat, financial inclusion and DBT, the Solar Rooftop Scheme, and GST amendments.
Every year, the Post Department prints 1.50 crore postcards. In Gujarat alone, over one crore postcards have been written by the Cooperative Sector and the Education Department in a short span, marking an unprecedented achievement. A postcard exhibition has been organised on October 7 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, open to citizens. Students from various colleges have also expressed their gratitude through postcards, coordinated by the Higher and Technical Education Department, in celebration of the Prime Minister's Swadeshi Abhiyan, Operation Sindoor, GST reforms, and initiatives aimed at making India a global leader.
The Higher and Technical Education Department has contributed a total of 4.50 lakh postcards. Additionally, lectures have been organised in 100 colleges/universities under the Swadeshi Abhiyan, with 62 having already taken place. Expert speakers have guided students on how adopting Swadeshi can contribute to the prosperity and excellence of both the state and the nation.
The release stated that on 8th October, there will be a Job Fair Program.
Along with the state-level program in Gandhinagar, similar programs will be organised across 33 districts. Over 50,000 youth will receive employment letters, while more than 25,000 ITI students will be given provisional placement offer letters. Additionally, over 100 MOUs will be signed with industrial houses for the upgradation of ITIs.
On October 9 and 10, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference will be held at Mehsana, featuring an MSME Conclave, an Entrepreneurship Assistance Fair, a Vendor Development Program, a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet, and Regional Awards. The conference will include discussions with leading industrialists, business leaders, and youth on their development journeys and the role of these regions in achieving the vision of Viksit Gujarat@2047. It will also host a Startup Hackathon, startup pitching sessions, and an exhibition of products by entrepreneurs.
Similarly, on October 11, a state-level program will be held in Rajkot, where beneficiaries of various departmental schemes will receive their benefits. Guidance on the Panchayat Advancement Index will be provided, top-performing Gram Panchayats will be honoured, announcements regarding the Village Housing Construction Board will be made, and collective foundation stone laying for 'Panchayat Ghar' will be held across all Gram Panchayats in the state. On 15 October, at the Rath Yatra conclusion, inauguration and foundation stone laying of works costing less than ₹1 crore will be organised in each district.
A Vikas Rath for rural areas will also be organised in collaboration with the Information and Broadcasting Department, and a Swachhta Shapath will be taken across all government institutions.
On October 12 and 13, state-level programs will be organised, including the inauguration and laying of the foundation stone for development works in municipalities, the Swadeshi Mela (shopping festival), the creation of public architecture using recycled materials in collaboration with local artists, and mural-making at prominent public spaces across all municipalities.
On October 14, a state-wide program will be launched under the Ravi Krishi Mahotsav, featuring various farmer-focused activities such as crop seminars, guidance for farmers, agricultural exhibitions, Pashu Arogya Melas (animal health fairs), and innovative technology-based stalls.
On October 15, the state-level program will be held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, covering works worth ₹3,326 crore, ranging from ₹1 crore to ₹25 crore. Additionally, the minister said that from October 7 to 15, the Education Department will organise a series of programs, including Hackathons, Essay Competitions, Mural Paintings, Quiz Competitions, 100 Lecture Series, Webinars, Workshops, and Research Paper Seminars at Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi Universities, as well as the inauguration of ten Swami Vivekanand Competitive Examination Study Centres.
During Vikas Saptah, the Health and Family Welfare Department will identify, counsel, and educate around 1,700 pregnant women showing signs of high-risk labour. Approximately 10,000 beneficiaries will be registered under the Namo Shree Yojana, with payments of around ₹7 crore made through DBT. Meanwhile, around 6,000 beneficiaries under the Pradhanmantri Matru Vandana Yojana will receive payments totalling approximately ₹1.5 crore through DBT.
Additionally, under the Vay Vandana Yojana, Ayushman cards will be distributed to 14,000 beneficiaries aged 70 and above. During Vikas Saptah, 180 TrueNAT machines for TB diagnosis will be inaugurated by local MLAs and office bearers. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training will be conducted through 24 medical colleges, and special programs on mental health will be organised on 10 October, World Mental Health Day.
According to the release, plans include the establishment of 34 model CHCs, one in each district, along with health awareness initiatives through podcasts. Efforts under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan (SNSPA) will be showcased through an e-book.
Additionally, the Department of Information and Broadcasting will release a booklet titled '24 Varsh Safal Ane Saksham Netrutva Na' (24 Years of Successful and Able Leadership), host a Vikas Saptah quiz competition on the My.Gov.India portal, and organise a photo and reel competition on the same platform.