Young Entrepreneurs Benefiting from Chhattisgarh’s New Industrial Policy

Woman entrepreneur Ragini Jaiswal launches fitness & nutrition venture using local products

Sohail Rizvi from Geedam to set up 6-tonne-per-hour rice mill in Bijapur

Raipur, September 11, 2025/ Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the initiative to take industrial development to the remote areas of Bastar division — considered the most potential region for growth — has now begun to yield visible results. Six months ago, CM Vishnu Deo Sai had engaged in dialogue with industrialists, businessmen, budding entrepreneurs and youth associated with startups, keeping in mind the immense possibilities of industrial growth in Bastar. As a result of these consistent efforts, approval letters for investment proposals worth nearly ₹1,000 crore were handed over to investors during the ‘Chhattisgarh Investor Connect Bastar’ programme held in Jagdalpur on Thursday.

Among the beneficiaries are young woman entrepreneur Ragini Jaiswal from Kondagaon district and local entrepreneur Sohail Rizvi from the Maoist-affected Bijapur district, who have accepted the challenge of creating self-employment opportunities in these remote regions. A year ago, Kondagaon-based Ragini benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Scheme and established a fitness and nutrition unit based on local products. Through this, she has been providing healthy food to pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children. She availed financial assistance of ₹9.53 lakh under the scheme, which included a 35% grant component.

Meanwhile, Sohail Rizvi, a young entrepreneur from Geedam in Dantewada district, is setting up a modern rice mill in Bijapur. The capacity of this rice mill will be six tonnes per hour, with an investment of about ₹6 crore. The project will also receive a grant of ₹90 lakh from the government. Once operational, the rice mill is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to 50–60 people in the region.

Ragini explains that being part of a traditional rural family and a native of Bastar, she has in-depth knowledge of local forest produce, organic farm products and herbs, along with a clear understanding of the daily food habits and nutritional needs of Bastar’s residents. With her inclination towards food processing, she decided to begin her startup by focusing on maternal and child nutrition. She now manufactures her own products in Kondagaon and is moving towards self-reliance through a ‘Healthy Food Corner’. Ragini also shared that her 10-member family, including her parents and two brothers, inspires and supports her journey. She feels proud to be self-employed and vows to remain dedicated to providing essential nutritional services in Bastar.

Sohail, on the other hand, comes from a family with entrepreneurial roots. His father had set up a rice mill in Geedam 17 years ago. After completing his education, Sohail decided to take this family business forward. He has now given shape to the plan of establishing this new enterprise in Bijapur. Alongside this, Sohail is also running a fly ash brick business worth ₹3 crore, reflecting his entrepreneurial vision. The rice mill is not only expected to boost the local economy but will also create new employment opportunities in the area.

The initiatives of young entrepreneurs like Ragini and Sohail Rizvi are early, yet impactful, outcomes of the government’s safe, transparent and attractive new industrial policy. Their ventures will prove to be milestones in the future of local industries and employment generation in Bastar.