We Must Erase Every Trace of Naxalism and Make Bastar Happy and Prosperous Again: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah
Centre Stands Firmly with Chhattisgarh Government to Ensure Rehabilitation and Self-Reliance for Every Person Affected by Naxal Violence: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah
Ensuring Rapid Development and Prosperity in Naxal-Free Bastar Is Our Top Priority: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Guidance and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah Shri Amit Shah’s Firm Resolve Have Freed Bastar from Naxalism; It Is Now Time to Write a New Chapter of Development: Chief Minister Shri Sai
Niyad Nella Nar Is Bringing Development to Remote Areas; Seva Deras Will Create New Employment and Self-Employment Opportunities: Chief Minister Shri Sai
More Than 200 Security Camps in Bastar to Become ‘Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Deras’; Centres of Security to Become Centres of Public Service and Development
Three-Day Camp for Free Distribution of Artificial Limbs and Assistive Devices Inaugurated in Dantewada; 768 Specially-abled persons to Benefit
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Join Programme through Video Conferencing
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that, following the elimination of Naxalism, the foremost responsibility is to heal the wounds it has inflicted, rehabilitate those affected and provide them with opportunities to live with dignity. Naxalism caused immense suffering to poor and tribal families in Bastar for five decades. Every trace of it must now be erased to make Bastar happy and prosperous again. He said that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Central Government is fully committed to rehabilitating every person with a special ability and everyone affected by Naxal violence. The Government of India stands firmly with the Chhattisgarh Government in fulfilling this resolve.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah Shah addressed a programme in Dantewada on Thursday via video conferencing on the free distribution of artificial limbs and assistive devices to persons with special abilities. The programme was organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to mark Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s completion of 25 years of service and dedication as Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Shri Shah inaugurated the camp’s second phase. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai also joined the programme through video conferencing.
The three-day camp, being held in Dantewada from 15 to 17 October, will provide artificial limbs and various assistive devices to 768 persons with special abilities from Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts. These include 509 beneficiaries from Dantewada, 197 from Bijapur and 62 from Sukma. Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, and partner organisations are supporting the camp.
Naxalism Has Ended; Its Pain and Traces Must Also Be Erased: Shri Amit Shah
In his address, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said Seva Sankalp campaigns are being conducted across the country to mark Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service as Chief Minister and Prime Minister. As part of these efforts, artificial limbs and assistive devices are being provided to tribal brothers and sisters with special abilities affected by Naxal violence in Chhattisgarh to make their lives easier.
He said more than 3,600 persons with special abilities benefited from the camp held in Jagdalpur from 5 to 7 October 2026. Of these, more than 1,570 beneficiaries were from Bastar alone. These figures reflect the suffering poor and tribal families in Bastar have endured over decades.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that Naxalites had caused disabilities among innocent citizens through improvised explosive device (IED) blasts. He described this as the gravest violation of human rights. He said that the Shri Modi Government had firmly resolved to eliminate Naxalism from the country before 31 March 2026, and that Naxalism had now been eliminated.
Shri Shah said that ending Naxalism alone would not erase five decades of suffering. These wounds must be healed, people affected by Naxal violence must be helped to rebuild their lives, and arrangements must be made to ensure that they can live with dignity.
He said wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches, hearing aids, smart walking sticks, and artificial limbs can bring renewed happiness to people with special abilities. The Chhattisgarh Government, district administration, Social Welfare Department, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, Bharatiya Jain Sangh and several other organisations have made important contributions to this service initiative.
Shri Shah also appreciated the support of Bastar’s traditional tribal leaders. He said that local tribal communities have played an important role in the struggle against Naxalism and in efforts to bring positive change to Bastar.
Bastar Olympics, Bastar Pandum and Niyad Nella Nar Are Changing Bastar
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah appreciated the Chhattisgarh Government’s efforts to promote peace and development in Bastar. He said initiatives such as the Bastar Olympics, Bastar Pandum, Niyad Nella Nar, and Mukhyamantri Gramin Bus Yojana have helped restore happiness and vitality to the region. He said Bastar, once marked by gunfire, bomb blasts, and an atmosphere of fear, now has thousands of young people participating in sports and keeping their traditions alive. The Bastar Olympics has given young people a chance to showcase their talent, while Bastar Pandum represents a major effort to revive tribal art, culture, and traditions.
Shri Shah said that the Niyad Nella Nar Yojana is bringing basic amenities to remote areas of Bastar. Infrastructure and welfare schemes are now being extended to areas that remained deprived of essential facilities for five decades.
Important Steps Taken to Rehabilitate 8,526 Surrendered Naxalites
Referring to achievements in rehabilitation and development in areas affected by Naxalism, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that approximately 8,526 Naxalites had surrendered. He said that bank accounts had been opened for 7,328 people who previously had none. Reward amounts had been paid to 1,620 people and incentive payments to 7,882 people. Similarly, the scheme had provided jobs to 455 people and allotted land to 129.
He said the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had provided 4,014 houses. In addition, 2,308 tribal people had received skill development training to help them become self-reliant through employment and self-employment.
Shri Shah said the government had issued 6,763 new ration cards and provided free electricity to 2,808 families. To improve transport and connectivity in the region, the government had started 372 new road projects, with 670 culverts under construction. He said that Aadhaar cards had been issued to 48,526 people and 44 panchayats had been recognised under the Ilwad Panchayat Award.
Shri Shah said that these efforts are important steps towards bringing people in Naxal-affected areas into the mainstream of development and creating lasting, positive change in their lives.
More Than 200 Security Camps to Become ‘Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Deras’
Highlighting an important initiative for Bastar’s development, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that more than 500 security camps had been established during the campaign against Naxalism. Of these, more than 200 will now be developed as ‘Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Deras’. He said that officials of the Government of India and the Chhattisgarh Government will now work from the same locations where security personnel once ensured people’s safety, laying the foundation for a developed Bastar.
Shri Shah expressed confidence that these public service centres would accelerate development and welfare work in Bastar and help realise the resolve to build a developed Bastar.
Our Goal Is to Make Naxal-Free Bastar the Country’s Most Developed Tribal Region: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
In his address, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah’s firm determination had freed Chhattisgarh from the decades-old challenge of Naxalism. This historic achievement was made possible by the courage, valour and sacrifice of the security forces and the support of Bastar’s people.
The Chief Minister paid respectful tribute to the brave security personnel who laid down their lives in the struggle against Naxalism and the innocent villagers who lost their lives to Naxal violence.
He said that there was a time when it seemed difficult to believe that Naxalism could be eliminated from Chhattisgarh. However, under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s guidance and with Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah’s firm resolve, this goal had now been achieved.
Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah on behalf of Chhattisgarh’s three crore people, particularly the residents of Bastar.
He said that Bastar’s people had fully supported the security forces in this decisive fight against Naxalism. They wanted freedom from fear and violence, as well as peace and security, and an opportunity to join the mainstream of development. Their trust and cooperation played a key role in the campaign’s success.
The Chief Minister said that Naxalism had held back Bastar’s development. The time had now come to accelerate the region’s progress. The State Government is committed to making Bastar one of the country’s most developed tribal regions. He said Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah assured that Bastar would become the country’s most developed tribal division. The Central and State Governments are working together with full commitment to achieve this goal.
Education, Healthcare and Development Now Reaching Areas Once Gripped by Fear and Violence
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said the State Government is bringing development to remote areas of Bastar through the Niyad Nella Nar Yojana, which remained deprived of basic amenities for decades. He said that road connectivity and electricity have now reached more than 500 villages. Work to provide tap water to households and expand telecommunications facilities is progressing rapidly.
The Chief Minister said 431 schools have opened in these areas, and arrangements are underway to build hospitals and expand healthcare facilities. Better access to education and healthcare is creating improved opportunities for children, women and families in remote areas. He said that earlier, residents of many villages could not even obtain ration cards. They faced difficulties for days to collect their rations. The government is now addressing these problems by setting up ration shops in villages.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s effort is to ensure that the benefits of its schemes reach the remotest village and every individual in Bastar. After achieving freedom from Naxalism, the highest priority is expanding education, healthcare, roads, electricity, drinking water, and communication facilities.
From Security Camps to Service Centres: A New Chapter of Change in Bastar
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that security camps established during the campaign against Naxalism in Bastar had played an important role in creating an environment of peace and security. The government is now developing these camps as centres of public service and development.
He said converting vacated security camps into Seva Deras is an important commitment of the State Government. These centres will offer training and livelihood activities suited to local needs, creating employment and self-employment opportunities for young people and rural families.
The Chief Minister said the first Seva Dera was started in Netanar, the village of the Shaheed Veer Gundadhur. Residents there are receiving training in tailoring and embroidery. They have also started livelihood activities such as packaging tamarind, naturally available in Bastar’s forests, and processing rice using the traditional dhenki method.
He said that other Seva Deras would introduce various training programmes and livelihood activities suited to local resources and requirements in the coming period.
The Chief Minister said that this reflects the change taking place in Bastar. Locations where security forces were once deployed will now create opportunities for public service, skill development, and economic self-reliance.
Expansion of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation Facilities to Increase Incomes of Bastar’s Families
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that, alongside education, healthcare and infrastructure, the State Government is giving special priority to agriculture, animal husbandry and local livelihoods for Bastar’s overall development. He said the government is providing each family with two cows to encourage animal husbandry in the region. The government has also signed an agreement for dairy development to increase rural household incomes and strengthen their financial position.
The Chief Minister said the government had approved about Rs. 2,000 crore for major irrigation projects on the Indravati River at Deurgaon and Matnar to expand irrigation facilities in Bastar. Once completed, these projects will irrigate about 80,000 acres of agricultural land. He said that expanded irrigation facilities would make farming more profitable, increase agricultural production and strengthen the rural economy.
The Chief Minister said the State Government would continue working for Bastar’s overall development using its own resources and with support from the Central Government.
Restoring Confidence among Persons with Disabilities Is Our Responsibility: Chief Minister Shri Sai
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that many innocent villagers in Bastar had lost their limbs due to Naxal violence. IED blasts had caused lifelong suffering to numerous families. The State Government’s responsibilities are to make life easier for those affected, help them become self-reliant, and provide opportunities to live with dignity.
He said that, with this objective, the State Government, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, and partner organisations are providing artificial limbs, callipers, tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other assistive devices to persons with special abilities.
The Chief Minister said that the Dantewada camp would benefit 768 people, including 509 persons with special abilities from Dantewada district, 197 from Bijapur and 62 from Sukma.
He said that artificial limbs would bring renewed hope and confidence to those who had lost limbs in Naxal violence. These devices would provide considerable assistance to people who had struggled for years with mobility or daily activities.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s effort is not limited to providing assistive devices. It seeks to give every affected person an opportunity to live with self-respect and participate fully in society. He thanked Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, and other organisations supporting this noble cause.
Extending greetings on Sharadiya Navratri, the Chief Minister prayed to Maa Danteshwari for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of the state’s people.
Campaign to Ease the Suffering of People Affected by Naxal Violence Will Continue: Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma
Speaking at the programme, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma referred to the suffering of families affected by Naxal violence and said that IEDs planted by Naxalites had disrupted the lives of many innocent villagers. He said victims included children playing in their villages, farmers walking along their field boundaries, and villagers going about their daily activities. Some lost an arm, others a leg, and some lost their eyesight. Naxal violence had inflicted suffering on Bastar’s innocent people that is difficult even to imagine.
Shri Sharma said that, despite these difficult circumstances, the people of Bastar never gave up their resolve to be free of Naxalism. Their faith and the security forces’ courage made Bastar free of Naxalism. He said that Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah had issued clear instructions that the campaign to rehabilitate and assist people affected by Naxal violence must continue.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the State Government and Bastar’s public representatives are committed to ensuring assistance reaches everyone in need, and everyone affected. Every effort would be made to ensure that no person affected by Naxal violence is deprived of rehabilitation and necessary support.
Artificial Limbs Bring Renewed Hope to Persons with Special Abilities
During the programme, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah interacted with persons with special-abilities and listened to their experiences.
Madkam Munna, a police personnel from Sukma district, said that his left leg had been severely injured in an IED blast while on patrol in 2013 and had to be amputated. With an artificial leg, he can now walk again and is ready to serve the country once more.
Chandraiya Sapka, a resident of Dharmaram in Bijapur district, shared his experience in the local Gondi dialect. He said that he had lost his right leg in 2012 in a blast caused by an IED planted by Naxalites while he was on his way for fishing in the Chintavagu River. After receiving an artificial leg at the camp, he can walk again. It was a deeply emotional and memorable moment for him.
Similarly, Ajay Sori and Kosi Podiyam, persons with congenital orthopaedic disabilities from Jawanga and Metapal in Dantewada district, expressed happiness on receiving tricycles. They said that these would greatly ease their daily travel.
The beneficiaries thanked the Central and State Governments and partner organisations for this compassionate initiative.
Government Committed to Realising the Resolve for a Developed Bastar
At the programme, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah expressed confidence that Bastar, now free of Naxalism, would progress towards development and prosperity. He said that efforts to rehabilitate people affected by Naxalism, assist persons with disabilities and provide basic amenities to remote areas would continue.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Chhattisgarh Government is working with full commitment for Bastar’s overall development.
He said that the establishment of peace and security in Bastar has opened new opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, agriculture, tourism, culture and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s resolve is to connect every village in Naxal-free Bastar with the mainstream of development, give every young person an opportunity to progress and bring happiness to every family. Bastar, which endured violence and fear for decades, will now become known for peace, prosperity and development.
Bastar Member of Parliament Shri Mahesh Kashyap, MLA Shri Chaitram Atami, Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission Member Smt. Ojasvi Mandavi and other public representatives were present on the occasion.