Chhattisgarh has witnessed the fall of the last of the Maoist strongholds, but Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai says the surrender of the rebels is not the end-point, but a transition. As regions become free of insurgent activity, he says, the focus must shift to integrating villagers in a dignified, practical and sustainable way. Excerpts from an interview:
Maoist violence has lasted decades. What does its end signify for the liberated zones?
For Bastar, this is not simply a security milestone—it marks a fundamental shift in a landscape once shaped by fear and isolation. For decades, vast stretches remained beyond effective governance. What has changed is the restoration of the state in its fullest sense—visible, accessible and trusted.
Over the past two years, sustained efforts have led to a decisive weakening of Maoist networks. Hundreds have been neutralised, thousands have surrendered and many more apprehended, resulting in a structural collapse of their operational capacity. The more meaningful transformation is social. Villages once defined by fear are now witnessing functioning schools, expanding roads and welfare services.
What convinces you this transition is real and irreversible?
Scepticism is understandable given the region’s history. But the answer lies in what is unfolding on the ground. Through the Niyad Nellanar initiative, essential services—identity documentation, health care, food security and livelihoods—are now being delivered. Infrastructure has transformed daily life: electricity has reached villages that remained in darkness for decades; roads, mobile connectivity and public services now exist. Schools that had shut because of violence are reopening. When governance becomes a lived experience and communities begin to participate in it, change ceases to be declarative—it becomes embedded.
With this turning point achieved, what are your priorities?
Security has created the conditions; development must now sustain them. Our priorities are threefold: connectivity—expanding all-weather roads, bridges and transport; service delivery—welfare schemes are reaching saturation in remote areas through convergence across departments; and livelihoods—promoting skill development, agriculture-linked initiatives and small enterprises so young people can build futures within their own communities.
How does your surrender policy differ from earlier approaches?
The key difference lies in comprehensiveness. Individuals who lay down arms receive Rs10,000 per month for three years, plus housing support, land allocation, skill development and employment opportunities. Earlier policies addressed these in isolation; our approach integrates them. There is also a community dimension—villages free of Maoist activity become eligible for significant development support.
How are you ensuring surrendered cadre can secure livelihoods quickly?
Thousands are being trained across sectors, from construction to services. For surrendered individuals, these are aligned with local economic opportunities to ensure swift employment. The state’s industrial policy is also encouraging investment in the region. The objective is not merely job creation but the development of local economic ecosystems.
Development in tribal regions has historically been uneven. How are you ensuring this phase is more inclusive?
Our approach moves from selective development to saturation—ensuring every eligible household receives essential services within a defined geography. In villages around security camps, identity documents, health care, food security and housing approvals are being delivered systematically. Gram sabhas are being strengthened to enable community participation in planning and decision-making.
How has the function of security camps evolved?
Their role has evolved significantly. Earlier viewed primarily through a security lens, they now serve as anchors of governance, enabling regular administrative access to remote regions. Infrastructure—roads, connectivity and health services—has expanded around them. Through continuous engagement and service delivery, these camps are increasingly seen as facilitators of development.
What progress is being made on health, education and nutrition?
In education, schools that closed because of violence have reopened and new institutions are being established. Teaching in local languages at the primary level is improving learning outcomes. In health care, access has expanded through insurance coverage, new facilities and mobile outreach. Nutrition is being addressed through food security programmes and targeted interventions.
What gives you confidence that peace will endure?
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Peace endures when it is rooted in everyday life. When a young person has access to education, a family to health care, and a village to roads and livelihoods, the incentives for conflict diminish naturally. What we are witnessing in Bastar is not a temporary shift—it is a structural transition.