Raipur: For decades, Sukma has been among Chhattisgarh’s most Naxal-affected regions, where remoteness, difficult terrain and conflict kept basic infrastructure out of reach for many communities. Today, that narrative is beginning to change.

In a landmark step, electricity will reach 58 remote forest villages of Sukma for the first time since Independence under the Niyad Nella Nar Yojana, launched on February 15, 2024, being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

The Chhattisgarh government has approved Rs 31.62 crore from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) for rural electrification, bringing the benefits of power to 3,929 families living in these remote areas.
The significance of the move extends far beyond electricity. Power will create better opportunities for children to study, strengthen healthcare facilities and improve mobile and communication connectivity. It will also make it easier for residents to access government services and participate in economic activity.

The development signals a deeper transformation underway in Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-affected areas.

The approach is increasingly moving beyond security alone towards security combined with roads, electricity, connectivity and development - an approach that has also been consistently emphasised by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the government’s strategy for naxalite-affected regions.

The official handle of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted the electrification as a historic milestone, reiterating the government’s commitment to taking basic infrastructure and development to the remotest areas.

In Sukma, the arrival of electricity marks more than the end of darkness. It marks a shift- from isolation to inclusion, and from conflict-affected geography to a future powered by development.

BI Bureau