Development replaces fear in Jeeram Ghati post 2013 Naxal attack

Life seems to be back on track in Jeeram Ghati region of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, three years after the deadly attack by the Naxals on the convoy of Congress leadership, with development replacing fear among the people.

Ecstatic with the rapid pace of development, a local here said there has been a significant change in Jeeram Ghati.

"A school has been constructed and the children now get good education. The deployment of military has improved the situation. The roads have been constructed. We are no more facing an acute crisis of water," he added.

Recalling the previous situation, another local resident here told ANI that there was a complete sense of fear three years ago.

"Now, there is no more fear. All those who had left the village earlier are now returning," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, another local said there has been a significant and noteworthy change in the last three years.

"A lot of things have changed here. Earlier, there was no road, no school building. Development began here after the deployment of armed forces," he added.

An elderly here said the children, who were earlier forced to move outside the village to study, do not have to travel now as the administration has built a school in this village.

"The deployment of the forces has benefitted us. They interact with us, they tell good things and often help the people in the area," he added.

Manish Arya, a businessman, said there has been a remarkable change in Jeeram Ghati in the last three years.

"The roads have been constructed in the area and basic facilities including water, electricity, health care and schools have improved. The villagers are getting benefits from this," he added.

The businessman further said transportation has become easier due to construction of roads.

"The administration has particularly focused on infrastructure post the 2013 incident. The business now seems to be prospering," he added.

"There is no more fear in the area since there a military camp in the valley," he added.

A woman earlier late thirties, however, said there is still a lot of scope for development.

"There are still some areas, which need to be developed. We can't say there have been no changes as we have indeed witnessed some ground work," she added.

K. R Kar, the Chief Executive Officer of Darbha, said Jeeram village comes under the Kangapal Panchayat, adding the authorities here have been constructing homes under the Indira Awaas Yojana.

"We are in the process of constructing 74 toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The Anganwadi Kendra in the village is active and the construction of houses would be over within next 45 days," said Kar.

"The Jeeram village lies on a barren land. So, we are in process of implementing the land reform in the village under MNREGA," he added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Darbha further said that he visits the village on a regular basis so that basic facilities like water and electricity are catered to all.

"The solar plates have been distributed and solar pumps will also be installed for water facility," he added.

On 25 May 2013, heavily-armed Maoists attacked a convoy of the Congress leaders in Darbha Valley in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

The attack caused at least 27 deaths, including that of former state minister Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel. Senior Congress leader and former union minister Vidya Charan Shukla succumbed to his injuries on June 11, 2013.