Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel officially commenced the twelfth edition of the Chintan Shibir, a high-level government retreat, on Thursday. The inauguration ceremony was held at the serene premises of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission in Dharampur, located in the Valsad district.
The event saw the participation of 241 key government functionaries, including ministers from the state cabinet and senior administrative officials, who have gathered for a three-day period of intensive brainstorming.
A Platform for Progress and Public Welfare
In his inaugural address, Chief Minister Patel emphasized the significant role of the Chintan Shibir. He described it as a crucial platform that empowers the administration to advance towards developmental goals and work for the welfare of the common man with strong morale and unwavering confidence.
Patel highlighted that the culture of proactive thinking and global leadership, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is reinforced through such forums of continuous introspection. He expressed that the Shibir serves as an inspiration to tirelessly work in the public interest and to tap into the “infinite capabilities lying within us.”
The CM urged all participants to justify the “opportunity to serve the people,” which he described as a divine gift, by working with complete sincerity. He also projected that the outcomes of this Shibir would position Gujarat to take the lead in realizing the national vision of a developed India by 2047.
Focus on Key Developmental Sectors
The three-day retreat is designed to feature various focused sessions on a range of critical subjects. These include capacity building and evaluation, nutrition and health, green energy and environmental conservation, public safety, and growth in the service sector.
This tradition of an annual brainstorming camp for top government officials was originally established by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, back in 2003.
Chief Secretary M K Das also addressed the gathering, outlining the primary objective of the Shibir. He stated that its aim is the capacity building of the administration to effectively realize the goal of a developed Gujarat. Das added that these collective discussions would forge a medium of collective strength to propel the state forward on its development path.
Grand Welcome and Ceremonial Start
The proceedings began with a welcome speech by Hareet Shukla, Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department. Shukla provided an outline of the scheduled sessions and noted that decisions stemming from recommendations made in previous Chintan Shibirs have significantly accelerated the pace of the state's administration.
The participants, including the Chief Minister, first arrived at the Valsad Railway Station. Here, they were warmly received by the local unit of the BJP, which included Valsad MP Dhaval Patel. From the station, the contingent travelled in Volvo buses to reach the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission.
A large number of followers from the Jain community were present at the mission to witness the event. The spiritual head of the mission, Gurudevshri Rakeshji, formally welcomed and felicitated Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, marking a harmonious start to the government's introspective exercise.
