"People can now move about freely...": Koya Youth Wing District President on Naxal-Mukt Bharat mission
Sukma, March 31
Koya Community Youth Wing District President, Ganesh Madavi, on Monday said that people can move freely in the region as Naxalism seems to be on the verge of eradication, making the area safe and secure.
Speaking to ANI, Madavi highlighted that Naxalism stayed in the region for nearly four decades, restricting the development there.
"Naxalism appears to be on the verge of complete eradication. Compared to the past, the current situation presents a far more positive picture. People can now move about freely... Naxalism persisted in this region for nearly four decades as an active force. No development could take place here. But now, as the roots of Naxalism are being uprooted, the situation--particularly in the realm of education--is improving; children, even in the remote interior areas, are now able to pursue their studies with dedication," he said.
Madavi said that the origin of Naxalism was quite simple. Naxalites had declared to stand for the voiceless people in the past, who were being harassed by corrupt forest guards with extortion practices.
"The main reason for its proliferation was the inherently simple and trusting nature of our people... Earlier, people were harassed by forest guards--they had to face 'protection fees' (extortion) and other forms of forced levies--and were even barred from entering the forests. Witnessing all this, the Naxalites declared, 'We will stand by you. We will protect your Jal, Jangal, aur Zameen, that is, water, forests, and land," he said.
He said even though Naxalism is almost eradicated under the Naxal-Mukt Bharat goal, some of its fragments remain.
"The damage that Naxalism has inflicted upon this region can never be compensated for. No one can truly compensate for such a loss," he added.
The "Naxal Mukt Bharat" (Naxal-free India) mission is a strategic goal set by the Union Home Ministry under the Modi government to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 31, 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's important to read the full context. The leader admits Naxalism grew because of real grievances - corrupt officials extorting people. Eradicating the violence is crucial, but we must also ensure the root causes of exploitation are addressed permanently.
My cousin served in the CRPF in Bastar. The stories he told... This news feels like a dawn after a very long, dark night. Salute to all the security personnel and the local communities who endured so much. Hope development reaches them fast now.
"Jal, Jangal, aur Zameen" – this promise resonated because it spoke to basic survival. Now that peace is returning, the government must deliver on real development: schools, hospitals, roads, and fair access to forest resources. The trust of the people is the ultimate victory.
A 40-year struggle finally seeing light. This is a testament to the Naxal-Mukt Bharat mission. The focus now should be 100% on education and employment for the youth there, so they never fall for such ideologies again.
While the improved security is commendable, let's not forget the immense loss he mentioned—lives, childhoods, decades of progress. Compensation might be impossible, but sincere rehabilitation and memorials for the victims are essential. Peace has a cost.
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