Once infamous as a Maoist stronghold, Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division is now emerging as a model of peace and development. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai, the region is witnessing a remarkable transformation marked by security gains, infrastructure development, and social welfare initiatives.
Mr. Sai said, “In Bastar, the sound of school bells, roads, and progress is replacing the sound of bullets.” Officials confirmed that this turnaround has been achieved through a decisive campaign against Maoist insurgency in the last one-and-a-half years.
Decisive Action Against Insurgency
According to government data, 453 Maoists have been neutralised in encounters, 1,602 have surrendered, and 1,591 arrested. Security forces also eliminated Mr. Basavaraju, the general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist). Additionally, 1,162 landmines planted by Maoists were seized.
The state’s rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists is considered among the best in India. It includes a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000 for three years, skill training, land for housing or agriculture, cash incentives, and support for self-employment.
The government has set March 2026 as the target to make Chhattisgarh free of Maoist insurgency.
Expanding Education and Connectivity
For the first time since Independence, a school is being constructed in Rekawaya village of Abujhmad, once under Maoist influence. Nearly 50 previously closed schools have reopened with better infrastructure.
Road and rail projects have gained pace with 275 km of roads, 11 bridges, and approvals for a 140-km Rowghat-Jagdalpur rail line. Work on doubling the Kothavalasa-Kirandul line is underway, while a 160-km Kothagudem-Kirandul rail link is under final survey.
Digital access has also improved with 607 mobile towers activated and 349 upgraded to 4G.
Electricity Reaches Forgotten Villages
Remote villages in Sukma and Bijapur, including the native place of Maoist leader Hidma, have received electricity for the first time. At Chilkapalli, electric bulbs lit up on Republic Day this year, ending a 77-year-long wait.
‘Niyad Nellanar’ Brings Governance Closer
Through the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ initiative, government schemes now reach villages within 10 km of 54 security camps. Over 81,000 Aadhaar cards, 42,000 Ayushman cards, 98,000 ration cards, 5,000 Kisan Samman Nidhi transfers, and 2,000 Ujjwala connections have already been distributed.
Bodhghat Irrigation Project: A Gamechanger
The proposed Bodhghat Irrigation Project on the Indravati river, with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore, is poised to transform Bastar. Once declared a national project, it will irrigate 8 lakh hectares and generate 200 MW of power. Plans are underway to link the Indravati and Mahanadi rivers for expanded irrigation benefits.
Local Youth in Security Forces
To ensure both employment and security, 3,202 posts have been created in the ‘Bastar Fighters’ unit of the state police, recruiting local youth to protect vulnerable villages.
Chief Minister Mr. Sai summed up the state’s vision: “The development of Bastar is the foundation of a New Chhattisgarh. Every child should study, every youth should progress, and every village must join the mainstream of growth.”
