Naxalism nears end in Chhattisgarh, government shifts focus to development: CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said that while Naxalism in the state is on the verge of complete elimination, his government is focused on extending development to the remotest corners of the Bastar region.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the BJP state government’s second anniversary, Sai said that for years, Left-Wing Extremism had obstructed Chhattisgarh’s growth despite the state’s rich natural resources. “Today, the entire country knows that in just two years, due to the double-engineered government at the Centre and in the state, and the firm resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, our security forces have fought Maoists with exceptional courage. Under Shah’s guidance, Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is moving towards complete elimination,” he stated.

According to Sai, over the past two years, more than 505 Maoists have been neutralised, 2,386 surrendered, and 1,901 arrested, achievements he claimed the previous Congress government could not attain even in five years.

However, Sai emphasised that ending Naxalism alone is not enough. “We have to ensure development reaches every corner of Bastar. Several schemes are being implemented for this purpose,” he said, highlighting the Niyad Nella Nar (Your Good Village) scheme , which brings amenities and welfare benefits to villages near security camps.

He said that as security camps expand, development follows: electricity is reaching villages, ration supply has stabilised, closed schools have reopened, hospitals are functioning again, and mobile towers are being installed. “Development has reached and peace has returned to more than 400 villages in the interior,” the CM added.

Sai also detailed a new rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists, offering Rs 10,000 monthly assistance for three years, land for housing in urban areas, agricultural land in rural areas, and skill development training. Last month, the Pandum Cafe in Jagdalpur run by surrendered Naxalites and victims of Maoist violence was inaugurated.

On tourism and culture, Sai said initiatives such as eco-tourism, Bastar Pandum, and Bastar Olympic events are giving the region a new identity.

Presenting his government’s two-year report card, Sai highlighted welfare and development initiatives including:

• Approval of 18 lakh houses under PM Awas Yojana .

• Paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal .

• Monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to nearly 70 lakh women under Mahtari Vandan Yojana .

He said more than 400 administrative reforms had strengthened governance through digital monitoring, while a new industrial policy is expanding economic opportunities. Road, rail, expressways, and industrial infrastructure have expanded at an unprecedented pace with support from the Centre. Air connectivity has also improved significantly, with new flights operating from Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, and Ambikapur , while Ambikapur Airport was inaugurated by the PM. Budget provisions have also been made for the expansion of Jashpur and Balrampur airstrips .

Sai concluded by highlighting the Anjor Vision Document-2047 , aimed at achieving a “developed Chhattisgarh,” with visible impacts of rapid development already reaching the people.