Raipur: In what can be term as a significant achievement for the district administration and security forces grappling with the Maoist challenge in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, a sub-health centre (Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre) was re-opened after a gap of over two decades in violence-hit Dantewada district.
Located in the remote village of Potali under Aranpur-Jagargunda area, the health centre was closed due to rising incident of violence in the peak of the Maoist insurgency in the state soon after its inauguration in the year 2004-05.
The residents recall that the walls of the abandoned health centre were filled with Maoist’s warning, barring the villagers or the administration to use it for health care facility.
The Dikttas issued by the extremists had left the local residents with no other choice than walking up to Sameli village of Aranpur for basic health care facilities. However, things improved in recent times after the administration decided to renovate the abandon site on demands of the residents.
The proposal for re-opening of the centre also received support from the local political representatives, finally leading to its reopening after a notable gap of around 19 years.
Sharing the pictures of the re-opening program, the district administration on Wednesday, January 01 tweeted “After defeating issues like Naxalism (Maoism), violence and fear under Vishnu’s good governance, a sub-health centre was opened in Dantewada’s last village Potali.”
विष्णु के सुशासन में नक्सलवाद,हिंसा और डर जैसी समस्याओं को हराकर आख़िरकार दंतेवाड़ा जिले के आखरी गांव पोटाली में खुला उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र@ChhattisgarhCMO @DPRChhattisgarh #न्यूज़ #dantewada_district pic.twitter.com/hMFEdKrAaz
— Dantewada (@DantewadaDist) January 1, 2025
The administration’s post features images of the elated local residents being treated by the health care staffs, showcasing the much-awaited development for the locals unfolding only after a significant gap.
Notably, after being sworn-in the office, the incumbent Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has time and again reiterated that along with the tough measures to deal with the Maoist issue, the state government will also focus extensively on providing the basic facilities to the residents of Maoist affected areas.
The government has already been running the flagship “Niyad Nellanaar” scheme, aimed at providing the benefits of various government-run schemes to the residents of the violence hit areas.
The southern part of the state remained the only region significantly affected by the Maoist insurgency in the country, accounting for over 60 per cent of the violence linked with the Maoists.
Security Forces however has made significant progress in the last few years in the Maoist’s stronghold in the state, carrying out major operations along setting up forward operating bases.
More than 800 Maoist cadres have been arrested while over 200 were neutralised in separate campaigns launched by the forces in the affected areas of the state in last one year alone.
Additionally, over 800 cadres of the banned group have also laid down weapons, citing disappointment with the Maoist’s ideology in the year 2024. The development dealt a major blow for the outlaws already grappling with the lack of fresh recruitment.
