Bijapur, Apr 12 (PTI) The end of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is ushering in visible transformation in several villages in Bijapur district, with works under Niyad Nellanar scheme and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act giving them first-time access to essential civic infrastructure, an official said on Sunday.
While 224 villages across 67 gram panchayats in Bijapur district have been covered under Niyad Nellanar initiative through 42 security camps, 1,744 development works have been completed under MGNREGA, generating over five lakh person-days of employment, he said.
"More than 16,000 families have received employment support, with 16,671 job cards registered so far, including 7,271 newly issued cards. Special focus has been placed on vulnerable groups affected by Naxal violence, including 966 surrendered Naxalites, 178 families of injured victims and 477 families of those killed, all of whom have been linked to MGNREGA for livelihood support," the official informed.
The arrival of basic amenities such as employment, housing, drinking water, education and livelihood opportunities has reduced migration and strengthened the trust of the villagers in governance after decades of the Maoist menace, he said.
Livelihood generation has also expanded through the sanctioning of 372 'Ajeevika Dabri' livelihood ponds, with beneficiaries in Belnar village of Bhairamgarh block getting help from the fisheries and horticulture departments for fish farming and vegetable cultivation through convergence projects, the official added.
"Housing access has improved significantly under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), with 2,977 beneficiaries sanctioned homes in the Niyad Nellanar region. Of these, 690 permanent houses have already been completed," he said.
In Dugali village, a newly constructed well under MGNREGA has become the primary water source for more than 100 residents in terrain unsuitable for borewells.
In Palnar, once inaccessible to the administration, construction of a panchayat bhawan, anganwadi centre and gauthan (cow shelter) are underway, employing over 200 workers, the official said.
Kavargaon, after decades of isolation, now has 100 per cent job card coverage among its rural workforce, along with roads, electricity, drinking water, schools and mobile towers.
"In Savnar and Pusukonta villages, newly built anganwadi centres are serving children with education and nutrition support. Fair Price Shops have been established in Dharmaram, Todka and Bangoli. In Bangoli, 524 families no longer need to travel 18 kilometres to obtain essential supplies," he said.
To promote self-reliance, rehabilitated former Naxalites and local youth are being trained in masonry, enabling them to secure work in construction and infrastructure projects, the official said.
"The transformation in Bastar's remote villages demonstrates that sustainable peace and prosperity can only be achieved when development reaches the last mile," Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said.
In villages where development had never reached before, new hope and self-confidence have emerged through schemes like Niyad Nellanar and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, he asserted.
"This change proves that even the most challenging regions can be transformed through sensitive policies, coordinated efforts and public participation," Sai said.
The government declared Chhattisgarh Naxal-free on March 31 this year after a relentless campaign by security forces deep into the forested strongholds of the ultras left the movement without leaders and cadre, most getting neutralised or preferring to lay down arms.