Anti-Naxal security camps turn 'seva deras' in Bastar

JAGDALPUR: With Left-wing extremism crushed, the security camps set up by the forces in remote Bastar to run anti-Naxal operations, are being repurposed to serve the local population with doorstep-delivery of a range of govt benefits, right from Aadhaar and ration card generation to banking and healthcare services.Home minister Amit Shah on Monday launched this transformation journey from 'security to development' — aimed to facilitate Chhattisgarh’s remote tribal communities denied access to administration and govt schemes for nearly five decades due to Maoist violence — by inaugurating the first ‘seva dera' (service centre), named after local freedom fighter Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur, at Netanar village here.Gunda Dhur, a native of Netanar, had fought against British rule in the early years of 20th century..“I promise that within the next one and half years, 70 such public service camps (jan suvidha kendra) will be functional in Bastar. You will start seeing the benefits of this initiative in six months,” Shah declared at a public meeting after inspecting the Netalnar ‘seva dera'. He added at a subsequent event that the camps would offer benefits under 371 different govt schemes.Shah interacted with local men and women at the Gunda Dhur camp in Netanar — which comprises a digital services centre, skilling workshop and a processing/marketing centre for local rice varieties and tamarind -- and said that Naxalism would end in the true sense only after the harm and damage it had caused to locals over five decades is completely undone in five years. "It is the responsibility of theCentre and Chhattisgarh govt to reverse this damage and bring Bastar on par with the rest of the country in terms of development," he said and assured the families of Maoists who have surrendered that "your loved ones will return home soon, armed with suitable skills and education to lead a life of honour".At another event to felicitate all stakeholders involved in making the country Naxalism-free -- the political class, bureaucracy, police forces of affected states, Central forces, NIA, intelligence agencies, local tribal leaders etc -- Shah said they had together achieved what seemed to some as an impossible task when the March 31, 2026 deadline for uprooting Naxalism was first discussed at a closed door security meeting on Jan 31, 2024. "Later in August 2024, the time-bound goal, perceived as improbable in a lifetime, was made public. With the grace of Goddess Danteshwari (a local deity), it now stands fulfilled".Shah made special mention of district reserve guard (DRG) wing of the Chhattisgarh police and CoBRA battalion of CRPF for the success of anti-Naxal operations despite challenging conditions.. "It is the joint effort of all stakeholders that led to this success," he stated.The jan suvidha kendras -- to be set up by repurposing 70 of the total 200 security camps spread across Bastar -- are envisioned to provideservices such as aadhaar updates, banking facilities, ration card services, income/caste/domicile certificates, Ayushman cards, pension schemes, healthcare services, digital services, online applications, skill development support, agriculture advisory services, primary and adult education and various other public welfare facilities. Priority will be given to villages where access to administrative offices, banking facilities, healthcare and digital services remains limited.The camps will integrate various facilities available at the gram panchayat level into one unified service centre, thus saving the locals repeated travel to block or district headquarters.Shah said the roadmap for establishing the jan suvidha kendras in CAPF security camps has begun, with the National Institute of Design (NID) working on their architecture. The design will be finalised by NID in next three months and operationalised in following months. These camps will be spread across Bastar, Kanker, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts.According to the Chhattisgarh government, the project will first identify security camps of CAPFs and state police with reduced operational requirements, followed by infrastructure upgrades including electricity, water, internet and sanitation. Multiple departmental services will then be integrated, and local youth and self-help groups will be involved in operations and management.These centres will provide common service centre (CSC)-based services including e-Shram registration, electricity bill payment, online applications, and railway and bus ticket booking. Printing, scanning and other digital services will also be available.Experts believe the model will accelerate digital inclusion in Bastar.Areas that once had little or no access to online systems will now be connected directly with government schemes and digital services. This is expected to reduce dependence on middlemen and make welfare delivery more transparent and accessible.