Pain of displacement ends as Naxal-affected families return to Narayanpur's Balebeda
Narayanpur, July 8
Eradication of naxalism not just unlocked the opportunities for developmental activities, it simultaneously opened the path for people to return back to their native place once they were displaced due to the maoist violence.
After restoration of peace in Bastar region, the victims of naxal violence are now returning to their respective villages and building dream houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
There was a time when Balebeda village in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh was considered a stronghold of naxals. The fear of naxal violence was so intense that the entire village became deserted as people left behind their fields, homes and childhood memories as they sought refuge in Narayanpur and other areas for years. Now the situation is changing significantly.
Today, several families returned back to Balebeda and started construction of houses.
"The goal is not merely to bring people back to the village, but to fully repopulate as well as rejuvenate it so that every family can live with dignity and security," said Narayanpur Collector Namrata Jain.
She further said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, naxal-affected families are being resettled in their native villages. Families returning to villages like Balebeda and Garpa are being provided benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. They are building houses in their own villages and are also enthusiastic about resuming farming. A school is being restarted in Balebeda and approval for a new building has been granted. Our effort is to ensure that every returned family receives all essential facilities from the government.
"I was born and married in this village, but naxalism toppled our lives. Fearing for our lives, we left the village and moved to Narayanpur. Now, we are receiving funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which is helping us build a concrete house. I have received the first and second instalments," said Rajbati Dadu, a resident of village Balebeda.
Delighted to see her permanent house taking shape at Balebeda, Sonari said that this is not just a house, but the beginning of a secure future.
"For the first time, a Collector visited our village. She listened to our grievances regarding water, roads, and electricity. Now we are getting the housing benefit, which will make our lives easier. We have received two installments and the house is under construction. Earlier, we lived in a hut, and the rainy season used to bring immense misery," she added.
According to Raju Ram Dadu, construction of houses for many families has just started. After receiving the first installment, the construction work is progressing rapidly. He has received Rs 40,000 as the first installment and has started building. Once the subsequent installments are released, he will complete the work.
The needs of villagers are not just limited to concrete houses, instead they need clean drinking water, Anganwadi center, a playground, a community hall, and better education facilities, said Raju Ram Usendi.
He further elaborated that the entire village has been deserted due to naxalism, but now people are returning back. There is a water shortage and children have to walk two to three kilometers to reach school. We have requested the Collector madam for basic facilities including potable drinking water, anganwadi, playground, and a community hall. Some projects, including hand-pumps for clean drinking water, a playground for children, and the Panchayat building, have commenced. We hope the other works will be completed soon.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartwarming to see families like Rajbati Dadu and Sonari getting their homes back. But let's not forget why they had to leave in the first place. The government should ensure these areas remain peaceful and development reaches every corner. Also, Raju Ram Usendi's concerns about water and schools are valid - we need more than just houses.
Great to see the Collector visit personally. That's the kind of governance we need - on the ground, listening to people. 40,000 rupees first installment for PMAY is a good start, but hope the subsequent installments come on time without delays. Bastar deserves this development after years of neglect.
This is what happens when security forces clean up Naxal strongholds. People can finally breathe and rebuild. But the article mentions water shortage and children walking 2-3 km to school - these basics should have been sorted before bringing families back. Hope the administration follows through on all promises. 🤞
Real development means giving people their dignity back. These families lost years of their lives to fear and displacement. PMAY isn't just about houses - it's about restoring hope. Let's not politicize this. Whether you support Modi or not, this is a step in the right direction for Bastar.
The real heroes here are the families who survived the Naxal terror and are now rebuilding their lives. But I'm a bit skeptical - returning to a village with no running water or proper school is not ideal. Government needs to prioritize basic amenities over just building houses. Still, a positive development overall. 😊
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