Few areas in India have suffered as much pain as Bastar, and few show as much promise today. For decades, this tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh lived in the shadow of violence and isolation. Today, the conversation is changing. Farmers can access markets, children attend school without fear, and families have access to welfare benefits that once seemed out of reach.
This change was made possible by a joint effort. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Center fully supported the end of Maoist violence. The moment is symbolic as the Prime Minister has just celebrated his 75th birthday as Chhattisgarh gears up to celebrate 25 years of statehood in November. These milestones remind us that Bastar’s developmental revival is both a state and national achievement.
The return of peace was the first condition for change. Roads that once brought fear now carry buses to markets. Police camps, previously considered as bases of authority, are being turned into spaces where health camps, sports events and cultural programs are held. It is no longer uncommon to see children playing football alongside jawans or villagers gathering for food distribution. Such human connections broke down the old walls of mistrust and weakened the influence of the Maoists.
But peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is also the presence of opportunity. People measure change by whether their children can study, whether their mothers can get medical and nutritional care, and whether their own work finds dignity. In Bastar, these aspirations are beginning to find answers.
For years, a lack of schools denied tribal children the ability to imagine a future beyond survival. No longer. Anganwadi centers are functioning again, providing food and care. Girls study in Eklavya Model Schools and Hostels. Scholarships open doors to colleges. Skills training at ITIs and centers across the region prepares young men and women for decent work. When I meet students in Dantewada or Narayanpur in the Bastar region, their confidence speaks louder than any report. They no longer dream of leaving Bastar – they dream of shaping it.
Women are at the center of this new Bastar. Self-help groups sell tendu leaves, tamarind and other forest products at fair prices. Community ‘haats’ or markets are reviving, bringing artisans and buyers together. Small businesses in food processing, tailoring and crafts are run with quiet determination. It is not just about economic activities, but about acts of self-respect. A woman who earns with her skills not only supports her family but also inspires her village.
Access to health care
One of the biggest gaps was healthcare. Villagers often went to the hospital for days. Today, sub-health centers and mobile units extend deep into the forest. Poshan Vatikas in Dantewada and Bijapur spread awareness about healthy diet. Telemedicine connects tribal families with doctors miles away. I remember meeting mothers in Bijapur who spoke of their relief that their children were no longer missing vaccinations. For them, it’s not just a service – it’s a hope that their children will live healthier lives than they did. Equally symbolic was the moment when the Tricolor was first hoisted in remote villages and electricity and health centers reached places where none existed before.
A government hospital is now coming up in Puvarti, a remote village in Sukma that was once famous as the birthplace of Maoist leader Hidma. A medical team even treated Hidma’s aging mother there after the security camp was established a year ago.
Tap water reaches the villages
Another turning point was access to water and connectivity. Mission Jal Jeevan has brought tap water to villages even in the most remote parts like Abujhmad. Solar pumps are now running in settlements where electricity has just arrived. Roads are constantly improving, but it is the digital approach that has transformed the young generation. A girl from Narayanpur can now attend online classes, her family can sell products in wider markets and banking services reach her doorstep. This bridging of distances is perhaps the most visible sign that Bastar is no longer an isolated region. Electricity lights up lives in places where darkness once symbolized fear. On 26 January 2025, Republic Day, Chilkapalli village in Bijapur was electrified for the first time. Villages like Temenar and Pusukonta were annexed in March 2025, followed by Handawada in Abujhmad in April. With each connection, light replaced fear and uncertainty.
There is life behind every statistic. In Kondagaon, young entrepreneur Ragini Jaiswal runs a nutrition unit that provides meals for women and children. In Narayanpur, tribal girls trained in tailoring supply school uniforms. These are not isolated cases, but part of a larger wave of self-confidence. Bastar is not waiting for outsiders to define its future; her people lead from within. With growing confidence and stability, the region is also signaling its readiness for responsible economic investment that complements local strengths.
In Bastar, the idea of ’Niyad Nellanar’ – ‘My Own Village’ scheme in Gondi was taking shape. It means that no household is left behind, whether in access to food, education, livelihood or dignity. As Chief Minister, I consider it my responsibility to ensure that the role of the state is to support and empower while the people themselves carry the dream forward. Our goal of eliminating Maoist violence by March 2026 will not be achieved through security operations alone, but through expanding opportunities and prosperity. Through this initiative, basic facilities like roads, schools, healthcare and communication are being reached to the remotest corners. 81,090 Aadhaar cards and 49,239 Ajushman cards have been issued in 327 villages within five kilometers of security camps. Besides, 5,885 families are getting Kisan Samman Nidhi and 2,355 people are benefiting from Ujjwala Yojana. More than 98,000 people have access to free food through ration cards. These villages also saw 21 all-weather roads, 635 new mobile towers, 18 new fair price ration shops and nine new health care centres. The coverage of this scheme has now been extended to 10 kilometers.
For the first time, the tricolor was hoisted in 29 villages across Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma where the Maoist red flag once stood as a symbol of fear. Villages like Kondapalli, Jidapalli, Wathewagu, Karregutta, Pidia, Pujarikanker and Bhimaram in Bijapur; Garpa, Kachhapal, Bedmakotti, Kandulnar and Raynar in Narayanpur; and Gomguda, Gollakunda, Nulkatong and Uskawaya in Sukma witnessed the national flag for the first time ever – a historic milestone of integration and pride.
Bastar, one of the oldest settlements in the country, has the richest tribal culture and civilization. Its history is well documented. But in the last few decades, Maoist violence with guns, explosives and landmines has unsettled, killed and destroyed the most peaceful people. We got through this violent scene at a fast pace. We are also committed to restoring its invaluable culture.
This year has a special meaning. As Chhattisgarh completes 25 years, Bastar too enters a new chapter. Her story – from conflict to trust, from fear to dignity – is proof that democracy combined with peace and inclusive development can heal even the deepest scars. It is the lifting of a long shadow for our state. It is an assurance to the nation that one of its most fragile regions is turning into a center of power. The Bastar peace is not just an achievement for our state – it is an achievement for India and an achievement for our democracy.
Published – 01 Nov 2025 21:11 IST
