Teachers are role models for their students: Governor Ramen Deka

Teachers are role models for their students: Governor Ramen Deka
 
Life is incomplete without education: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai

State-level Teachers’ Felicitation Ceremony held at Raj Bhavan

Raipur, September 5, 2025

Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai today felicitated outstanding teachers of the year 2024 at a grand state-level Teacher’s Day function held at the Chhattisgarh Mandapam in Raj Bhavan.
At the ceremony, both the Governor and the Chief Minister extended greetings and congratulations to all the award-winning teachers of 2024. A total of 64 teachers were honoured with the Governor’s Award. On the occasion, School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav also announced the names of 64 teachers selected for the State Teachers’ Awards for the year 2025.

Delivering the keynote address, Governor Ramen Deka, the chief guest, first paid homage to India’s first Vice-President, eminent philosopher and educationist Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary. He said education is the most powerful tool for the holistic development of human beings. “A teacher is a role model for his or her students. Good teachers play a crucial role in shaping responsible citizens,” he noted.
The Governor said that teachers are a source of inspiration in the lives of students and have a major role in their growth. “Life today is not easy. Students must be taught how to rise after a fall and face life’s challenges,” he added.

Governor Ramen Deka further said teachers should impart lessons in a way that draws children towards schools. “It is not the school building that matters, but what is taught inside it,” he remarked, describing India’s ancient Gurukul tradition as exemplary. He called the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 a game-changer. “It is the responsibility of teachers to ensure children receive education in line with this policy, which was introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its primary objective is to make education more practical, skill-based and holistic,” he said. He emphasized that the policy lays special stress on imparting education in the mother tongue. “When a child learns in his or her mother tongue, education becomes easier and more interesting,” he observed.
Highlighting innovative practices,  Governor Ramen Deka said it was a matter of pride that teachers in the state were using creative and effective teaching aids, making the learning process more engaging and simple. “Providing education suited to the changing environment must be our priority. Meaningful initiatives are needed in this direction. Curriculum content must also be updated to suit the times,” he urged.
Presiding over the event, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said teachers are the true nation-builders, producing patriotic citizens who contribute to the progress of society and the nation. “Just as a lamp burns itself to spread light, teachers spread the light of knowledge despite many hardships,” he remarked. He added that Chhattisgarh, now celebrating its Silver Jubilee year, has made remarkable progress in all fields over the past 25 years. “Education is the mantra of development, and life is incomplete without it. The sector has witnessed major expansion in recent years. Today, the state has more than 20 universities, over 15 medical colleges, and institutions of national repute such as IIT, IIM, AIIMS, and the National Law University,” the CM said.
Sai reiterated the government’s resolve to make education easily accessible to every child. “That is why primary schools are being set up within 1 km, middle schools within 3–4 km, high schools within 6–7 km, higher secondary schools within 8–10 km, and colleges in every  block,” he informed. He also shared his views on the innovative initiatives being undertaken by the education department.
Speaking on the occasion, School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav said that with the implementation of the National Education Policy, the standard of education in the state will improve further in the coming years. He also announced the names of the teachers selected for next year’s State Teachers’ Awards.
At the ceremony, four distinguished teachers were conferred with special memorial awards: Ajay Kumar Chaturvedi from Surajpur district received the Dr. Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi Memorial Award;
Ramesh Kumar Chandravanshi from Kabirdham district received the Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Memorial Award; Sunita Yadav from Sarangarh–Bilaigarh district received the Dr. Mukutdhar Pandey Memorial Award; and
Bhojram Patel from Raigarh district received the Dr. Baldev Prasad Mishra Memorial Award.
Alongside, 64 outstanding teachers from categories including Headmasters, Lecturers, LB Lecturers, LB Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and LB Assistant Teachers were also felicitated.
On this occasion, School Education Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi delivered the welcome address, while Director of Public Instruction Rituraj Raghuvanshi proposed the vote of thanks.
The function was attended by the First Lady of the state, Rani Deka Kakoti, MLA Purandar Mishra, Governor’s Secretary Dr. C.R. Prasanna, Samagra Shiksha Managing Director Sanjeev Jha, along with officials of the School Education Department and a large gathering of teachers.