#Villagers overjoyed on receiving call from Chief Minister during ‘Roka-Chheka Puja’
#Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel interacts with people in Patora village Patan block via video call
Raipur, June 19, 2020: On Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s appeal, preparations for Roka-Chheka has been started in all the villages of the state to save kharif crops from cattle. Panchayat representatives are enthusiastically taking part in the preparations. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel attended the Roka Chheka ritual organized in village Patora of Durg district via video call from his residence office on Friday. Villagers were overjoyed to receive call from Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel himself right after the completion of ritual. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel interacted with the villagers via video call and asked Sarpanchs about the preparation. Chief Minister said that he was happy to see enthusiasm of people. Chief Minister appreciated the collective efforts of people along with members of gauthan samiti to organize the roka chheka ritual gathering. Chief Minister said that Roka Chheka is an important part of our rural culture. Sarpanch Anjita Sahu told Chief Minister that all the livestock owners have been administered pledge of keeping their cattle in gauthans. All the necessary preparations to nourish cattle have been made at the gauthans. Chief Minister said that Roka Chheka is an important tradition for saving kharif crop. Earlier people of village used to take pledge and protect crops. Chief Minister interacted with senior public representative Ashwini Sahu as well. Ashwini Sahu told that preparations for Roka Chheka were being done in the village for last two-three days. People have been motivated to take community pledge on the day of Roka Chheka. Besides, the preparation required for keeping cattles in gauthan has also been completed. On the occasion, Chief Minister also interacted with people Pahatiya. He said that because of the efforts of people in Pahatiya, gauthan there is flourishing. He extended good wishes to people of the village for kharif crops.
It is noteworthy that on Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s appeal, Roka Chheka campaign will be conducted across the state from June 19 to June 30. Public discussions for effective implementation of Roka Chheka tradition will be held across the state from June 19 to June 30, for protection of crops and for expansion of multi-crop areas. Meanwhile, strategies to stop open grazing of cattle in rural areas and to make roads in cities cattle-free will be discussed. Livestock owners will pledge to do Roka Chheka to save crops from cattle.