New Avatar of Bastar Emerging: From the Ashes of Naxalism Rises a New Era of Development
Team News Riveting
Raipur, August 11
There was a time when the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh echoed with gunfire and trembled under the shadow of Maoist terror.
Today, that same land is scripting a new chapter of growth and prosperity. Where fear once reigned, the clarion call of development now resonates. With the unwavering coordination between the Centre and the State and the unmatched bravery of security forces, the government has set a target to completely eradicate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from Chhattisgarh by March 2026.
Relentless Crackdown on Maoists and a Path to Surrender
In the last one and a half years alone, over 400 Maoists have been neutralised in encounters across Chhattisgarh. Additionally, 1,353 Maoists have surrendered, and 1,421 have been arrested. The elimination of 31 Maoists in the hills of Karreguda in Bijapur district, along the Telangana border, is considered a decisive blow to the Maoist insurgency.
The government is striking deep at the roots of extremism. The Bastar region is witnessing the final throes of Naxalism. In the current budget, 3,202 new positions have been sanctioned for the Bastar Fighters, opening avenues of recruitment for local youth. Under the Niyad Nellanar scheme, 61 security camps have been established in Maoist-affected areas. The supply and funding networks of Maoists are also being systematically dismantled.
Chhattisgarh boasts of the country’s most progressive Maoist rehabilitation policy. To support reintegration, 15,000 homes have been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for surrendered cadres and affected families. Each surrendered individual receives a stipend of ₹10,000 per month for three years, along with skill development training aimed at self-employment. Priority is being given to such individuals and their families in livelihood and entrepreneurship schemes, especially for women.
Education, Electricity, and Roads Illuminate Bastar
Where once schools were shut due to violence, they are now reopening. For the first time since Independence, a school is being built in Rekawaya village in the dense forests of Abujhmad. In previously inaccessible Maoist strongholds like Narayanpur’s Abujhmad region, new school buildings are taking shape. In 2024–25 alone, seven new security camps were established in this belt, alongside foundations for new schools—some rebuilt with help from reformed Maoists.
Electricity is now reaching villages long lost in darkness. The ancestral village of dreaded Maoist commander Hidma—Puvarti—is now a symbol of Bastar’s resurgence, now connected with roads and electrified homes. On Republic Day 2025, the remote village of Chilkapalli in Bijapur district lit up for the first time, 77 years after independence. In March and April 2025, villages like Temenar, Puskoonta, and Handawada also received electricity—illuminating not only homes but also eliminating fear and insecurity.
To strengthen communications infrastructure, 607 new mobile towers have been commissioned in Naxal-affected regions. Moreover, 275 km of roads and 11 bridges have been constructed, greatly improving connectivity in these areas.
Healthcare and Transport Witness a New Dawn
Chintagufa Health Centre in Sukma district has received the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) certification from the Central Government. After a gap of 19 years, the health centre in Potli village of Dantewada district has also been reopened.
To enhance public transport in remote interiors, the Mukhyamantri Bus Seva Yojana has been launched. Facilities at Maa Danteshwari Airport in Jagdalpur have been upgraded. Additionally, the Ministry of Railways has approved the 140 km Raoghat–Jagdalpur railway line project, with an investment of ₹3,513.11 crore. This project is poised to become a cornerstone in Bastar’s social, economic, and industrial development.
Prosperity Through Agriculture, Skill, and Industry
To promote employment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, the Chhattisgarh Government has introduced a new industrial policy with special packages for Bastar. Under the Mukhyamantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 90,273 youths have received vocational training and 39,137 have secured employment.
Farmers in Dantewada are yielding better results through organic farming, resulting in increased income. The government’s initiative to promote millets is also enhancing agricultural returns for tribal farmers. Bridges built over the Indravati River have improved connectivity in the region.
For the steel industry, a 15-year royalty reimbursement provision has been introduced. New micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bastar are eligible for 45 per cent capital investment subsidies. A new industrial zone is being developed in Niyanar village. Additionally, a State Industrial Security Force is being formed along the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), generating new employment opportunities.
Cultural Renaissance and Democratic Participation
Where gunfire once echoed, celebrations of Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum now fill the air. Over 1.65 lakh participants joined the Bastar Olympics, including victims of Maoist violence, differently-abled citizens, and surrendered Maoists, bringing an unprecedented sense of unity and enthusiasm.
Bastar Pandum showcases tribal heritage on the global stage, embodying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. It is not merely a cultural fest but a celebration of Bastar’s identity and aspirations.
For the first time, the national flag was hoisted in 26 villages across the conflict-ridden Bastar division. Villages like Pentapalli, Keralapanda, Duled, Sunnam Guda, and Puvvar in Sukma district witnessed polling for the first time. In Darbha block of Bastar, locals are now cultivating coffee. Dhurmaras village—declared one of the world’s best tourism villages by the United Nations—is being developed as an eco-tourism destination.
These collective efforts are transforming Bastar—from a region once engulfed in terror to one now embracing peace, progress, and prosperity.
