Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to Chhattisgarh’s first woman MP and social reformer Minimata, saying she dedicated her entire life for human welfare and women's rights.

Minimata is the epitome of social reformation, and the Chhattisgarh government is following her footsteps to achieve women's welfare, he said on her death anniversary after garlanding her picture at his residence.

On the occasion, Baghel inaugurated the newly-built Minimata Memorial Air-Conditioned Building worth Rs 44 lakh at New Rajendra Nagar via video conferencing.

Speaking about her contribution to the freedom movement, he credited her with doing significant work towards alleviation of social stigmas and evil practices such as untouchability, child marriage, poverty and dowry.

She always took the initiative for helping people and ensuring justice. She played an important role in getting the anti-untouchability legislation passed in Parliament, the Chief Minister said.

Baghel said that Minimata’s contribution towards Dalit and women welfare will always be   remembered.

Starting from the first parliamentary election after independence, the highly-respect Minimata was elected to the Lok Sabha on Congress ticket five times from present day Chhattisgarh -- in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1971.

She died in a plane crash on August 11, 1972.

Hasdeo Bango Dam in Chhattisgarh has been named after Minimata. The Chhattisgarh government has started the Minimata Amrit Dhara Yojana for providing safer drinking water in each and every household in villages.

Urban Administration and Labour Minister Dr Shivkumar Dahariya presided over the programme, which was organized by Guru Ghasidas Sahitya Sanskriti Akademi and Satnami Samaj.