"More than 2,000 Maoists have surrendered...": Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur, December 27
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said that the government appealed to the Maoists to abandon the language of violence and gunfire and join the mainstream of development.
"We have repeatedly appealed to the Maoists to abandon the language of violence and gunfire and join the mainstream of development. The government will treat them fairly, and the results are already evident. We have formulated a good rehabilitation policy, and today, more than two thousand Maoists have surrendered, and the government is treating them well. We are providing them with skills training. We are also giving them financial assistance of Rs 10,000 every month, and our new rehabilitation policy includes provisions for providing land for farming. There is also a provision for providing land to build houses in urban areas. In this way, the government is concerned about its future and is working towards its well-being," he said.
Earlier, as many as 34 Naxals surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. The surrendered Maoist cadres were collectively carrying a reward of Rs 84 lakh, the Bijapur Police said.
The surrender took place under the state government's rehabilitation initiative titled "Poona Margham: Punarvas Se Punarjeevan" (Return to the Mainstream: Social Reintegration through Rehabilitation), which focuses on reintegrating former extremists and welfare-based measures. Officials said the move reflects the growing impact of sustained anti-Naxal policies combined with confidence-building efforts.
The Central Government has set a deadline to eradicate Naxalism from the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by March 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the rehabilitation policy sounds good on paper, the real test is its implementation on the ground. Will these surrendered individuals truly be accepted back into their villages? Will they get sustainable livelihoods? The government must ensure this is not just a numbers game for headlines.
Good news! Development is the ultimate solution to extremism. When people have jobs, land, and a future, they won't pick up guns. Hope this "Poona Margham" initiative succeeds. Our tribal brothers and sisters deserve a life of dignity and peace.
I appreciate the focus on skills training. Giving someone a monthly stipend is temporary help, but teaching them a trade or skill empowers them for life. This is a more thoughtful approach than just monetary compensation.
Surrender with an 84 lakh reward on their heads? This shows the pressure from our security forces is working. A combination of strong police action and a good surrender policy is the way forward. Kudos to the forces and the government.
The 2026 deadline to eradicate Naxalism is ambitious. Hope it's met. Lasting peace will require continuous development work—roads, schools, hospitals—in these remote areas long after the guns fall silent.
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