Sukma: Once identical with ‘red terror’, the southernmost district of Chhattisgarh, Sukma has witnessed some ground breaking changes in the past one and a half year and so.
The persistent efforts of security forces and the police in one of the worst Maoist-affected districts of the country in recent times have given hope to the residents of far fledged regions to come out of the dark shadows of Maoism and walk on the path of development.
At the centre of the briskly changing scenario on ground are the newly established camps of security forces which has enabled the government to reach with its benefits of welfare schemes to the residents of remote areas along expansion of basic amenities in regions once considered a no go zones for officials.
Over a dozen such security camps [13] have come up in Sukma district between January last year to April this year, enabling direct reach of the government schemes to at least over 60 of such remote villages.
This comes amidst security forces neutralising over 60 Maoists in separate operations in Sukma since January last year. The security personnel have also apprehended over 400 Maoist cadres in the given period, weakening their operational strength in the district.
According to officials, around 400 villages of the district are now connected to the mainstream of development where extension of welfare schemes and other development related projects are being undertaken by the officials.
These projects include construction of roads, bridges, culverts to connect remote villages with the district headquarters. The administration has also started bus services on sensitive routes such as from Puverti, Silger, Minpa etc. recently, providing much needed relief to the commuters.
The establishment of security camps in remote localities have turned out to be a game changer for residents as the camps not only serve as bases to launch frequent search operations, enabling the personnel to check the previously unchecked movement of Maoists but they have also become a centre of development, operating as one stop centre for the villagers.
The state government through its flagship Niyad Nelanar [yours good village] scheme has announced to cover villages falling under the arc of 10 kilometers of such security establishment, providing benefits of all government run welfare initiatives to locals.
As of now, more than 300 villages falling under the 10 kilometer radius of 54 security camps in Bastar division which also encompasses Sukma are being provided with facilities like roads, drinking water, electricity, health centres, mobile towers along benefits of welfare schemes of the state and the Union Government.
The camps have also enabled the administration to carry forward projects related to education, health and electricity without any disruption from Maoists who earlier used to target any such initiatives of the government.
These security bases further enable the security personnel to organise civic action programmes and community feasts in nearby areas, allowing them to strengthen trust building measures with the locals alongside building a strong intel network which has proved to be a game changer in containing the Maoist dominance in the region.
Tightened security measures and extension of development related projects and welfare schemes have also inspired hundreds of former Maoists to part ways with the banned group and join the mainstream of development. According to details nearly 500 former Maoists have surrendered before the police in Sukma district in the past 18 months alone.
Officials opine that the camps are crucial in the ongoing battle against the red terror which the government aims to eradicate by March next year. “Security camps opened in the Maoist-affected areas are not only a symbol of strength of forces, but they are also turning into centre of development, ” said Superintendent of Police Sukma, Kiran Chavan.
“This is only the beginning and more villages will be set free from the clutches of Maoist and connected to the mainstream of development in future, ” he added.
In all, the security camps installed in remote regions are leading the way forward and believed to be instrumental in bringing back the much awaited peace in Bastar. These security bases are gradually instilling hope and a sense of believe among the masses that they could too join the mainstream of development without any fears of repercussion.
This according to many have encouraged the locals, who are now freely participating in development related projects and government-run initiatives. This has been duly reflected in public programs and events being organised in such far fledged regions. The hoisting of tricolor in several of the remote villages of Konta block on the occasion of independence day this year was a glaring example of how tables are turning for the good in hinterlands of Bastar.
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