Chhattisgarh: “Niyad Nellanaar” scheme to provide benefits of government schemes to residents of insurgency-hit regions

In a significant step towards providing basic facilities to the people residing in the core Maoist zone of the State, the Chhattisgarh government announced the flagship “Niyad Nellanaar” Scheme (Apka Achha Gaon Yojna) on Thursday, February 15.

Interacting with the media, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday said that the people residing in the Naxal- affected regions are deprived of basic facilities and even the government schemes fails to makes it way there, keeping this in mind the Chhattisgarh government has announced Niyad Naellanaar Yojna which means Apka Achha gaon (Yours good village) in Hindi.

A number of security camps are being established in these areas, recently as many as 14 camps have been established, the goal of this scheme is to cover as many as villages in the 5km radius of a security camp and provide facilities pertaining to government schemes to the residents, added CM, Sai who was accompanied by the deputy CM, Vijay Sharma.

Further the CM informed, that these facilities were earlier not reaching to the citizens, but now the scheme is launched and special attention will be paid. All the facilities provided by the government including free ration and schemes such as PM Aawas Yojna, Ujjawala schemes should reach to the resident of these regions.

The CM further asserted that his government intends to establish primary schools, community and health centers, Aanganbadi centers, play grounds, helipads, bank and ATMs, mobile tower alongside providing free electricity in these areas under the Niyad Nellanaar scheme.

While concluding his briefing the CM informed that an allocation of Rs20 crore has already been made for the scheme which can be increased with the help of union government if need arises.

Establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in core insurgency zones

It is worth mentioning here that the security forces in recent years have established a number of Forward Operating Bases (FOB) also identified as security camps, to boost their presence in the core insurgency zones of the State. The development occurred after the Union Government in its second term gave a nod to intensify counter offensive operation against the insurgents in the Southern Bastar region, a stronghold of the extremist since decades.

The area is known for the frequent movement of the Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army, armed wing of the outlawed CPI Maoist battalion no 01, headed by Barse Deva who has recently replaced Madavi Hidma after the latter was reportedly promoted to the Central Committee of the banned outfit.

Notably, the PLGA battalion no. 01 is considered the most feared battalion of the extremists and has its base on the interstate border of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Recently, the State police along with the central security forces, have established as many as 14 security camps in the core Maoist zone of Chhattisgarh including the one at Tekalgudem where the Maoist launched a deadly attack on the forces recently in which as many as three security personnel lost their lives.

Earlier while interacting with the media after establishment of a similar camp in Duled under Chintagufa police station limits, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sukma, Kiran Chauvhan, had remarked that these areas have been facing the ramifications of naxalism for a long time, due to which even basic necessities have not reached the residents.

Notably, the Union Government has been pushing up the development works alongside firming up the presence of security forces in Maoist infested regions across the nation with an aim of eradicating the left wing insurgency within a span of few years, as announced by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.