The land of Bastar is now writing new stories of development and prosperity: Tokhan Sahu

• Winds of development in changing Bastar, India moving towards the end of Naxalism

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu, said that the land of Bastar, which was once identified with Naxal violence, is now writing new stories of development and prosperity. In villages, permanent roads are being built, access to sanitation and education is increasing, women are being freed from smoke through the Ujjwala Yojana, and the dream of a permanent house is being fulfilled for every poor family. These changed circumstances are now shaping the picture of a new India.

In a dialogue (workshop) organized by the Press Information Bureau, Raipur, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in Sukma, on the theme “Naxal-Free India: The Path to Prosperity and Unity”, Shri Sahu said that the Government of India aims to make the country completely free from Naxalism by March 2026. He said that Naxalism is not only a law-and-order challenge, but also an issue connected with socio-economic backwardness and lack of development. With this vision, the government has implemented the “Rehabilitation and Surrender Policy 2025”, under which those who leave the path of violence are being connected with financial assistance, education, employment, healthcare, and social security.

A combined model of development and security

Shri Sahu said that this is not only a model of security, but a visionary model of comprehensive development. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is moving rapidly in the direction of sustainable and inclusive development. Through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, every poor is getting a permanent house; through the Swachh Bharat Mission, every village is receiving cleanliness; and through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, mothers and sisters are being freed from smoke. He said that the resolution taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah of a Naxal-free India is not only a declaration, but a part of a concrete strategy and continuous action. In Bastar and other affected regions, more and more camps are being established so that basic facilities like roads, electricity, water, education, and healthcare reach directly to the villagers.

On this occasion, Bastar MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap said that Naxalism had obstructed the development of the region for a long time, but now circumstances are changing rapidly. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has connected remote villages, making access to education, healthcare, and markets easier. He said that due to strong action by security forces, Naxal organizations are disintegrating, and in the coming times, Bastar will not be identified with fear and violence, but with peace, progress, and self-reliance.

New energy in tribal villages through the Dharati Aba campaign

Shri Kashyap said that the government is working to bring basic facilities along with digital connectivity, skill development, and modern agricultural technology to every village. Recently launched, the “Dharati Aba Tribal Village Utkarsh Abhiyan”, with a cost of about ₹80,000 crore, will ensure the holistic development of around 63,000 tribal villages and will directly benefit more than five crore tribal brothers and sisters.

Interaction with journalists and assurance on suggestions

During the program, Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu also interacted with the journalists present. He said that journalists are the voice of society and the medium to understand the pulse of the people, and therefore their questions and suggestions play an important role in making government policies and schemes more effective. Shri Sahu assured that the issues and suggestions raised in the program would be taken seriously and conveyed to the central government. He urged journalists to spread information about the government’s development schemes and positive changes to the masses, so that people can benefit from them, and the young generation can be kept away from the path of violence and guided towards education, development, and self-reliance.