New Delhi, Delhi, 18th of May, 2026 : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today inaugurated the Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan Suvidha Kendra in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. On this occasion, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Shri Tapan Deka and many other dignitaries were present.
In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that today is a very historic day. This birthplace of the martyr Veer Gundadhur is, in itself, akin to a pilgrimage site for every citizen of India. In 1910, our brave tribal leader had initiated the freedom struggle through the Bhumkal Rebellion, and Shaheed Veer Gundadhur had led the fight of the tribals of Bastar against foreign rule. He said that taking inspiration from him, this Netanar camp – which had been a security camp since 2013 – will now become a service camp and serve the tribals. The Chhattisgarh Government has also named this service camp after Shaheed Veer Gundadhur. This camp will always remind us that once upon a time, six policemen were brutally murdered here, schools and hospitals were razed, ration supplies were not allowed to reach, and the people were deprived of employment and education. Shri Shah said that today, at the very same place where our six jawans were martyred, the work of creating a sacred pilgrimage site for the service of poor tribals has begun.
Shri Amit Shah said that when we took the resolve to end Naxalism, our objective was not merely to eliminate the Naxals, but to ensure that all the facilities available in big cities reach the poor tribals of this region, so that their children’s future can also become bright. He said that through the “Niyad Nellanar” scheme, the Chhattisgarh Government is opening affordable ration shops in every village, establishing primary schools in every village, and opening cluster PSC and CSC centres between villages. Now, work is being done to provide drinking water to every poor household, Aadhar cards are being made, and ration cards are being issued. Every person is being given 7 kg of rice per month, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s scheme for free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh has also reached here.
Shri Amit Shah said that Naxals had spread a misconception for decades that “our area did not develop, therefore we picked up arms.” He said the truth is that this region did not develop because the Naxals had taken up arms in their hands. He said that within one year, we will bring all the developmental works done in Raipur, to you in your villages. Shri Shah said that you have the same right over every government facility as the people living in big cities have. Shri Shah said that this is your government, and it is the government’s responsibility to bring happiness into your lives.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that there are currently about 200 camps in Bastar, and out of these, we will convert 70 camps into Service Centres (Seva Kendra) of this kind within the next one-and-a-half years and turn them into centres for tribal welfare. The design of these camps will be completed. They will have banking facilities, Aadhar cards will be made, ration cards will be issued, and money under government schemes will be disbursed from here. Benefits of 371 schemes of the State Government and Central Government will be available at one place through the Common Service Centre.
Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also said that we should not sleep peacefully assuming that Naxalism is over. Naxalism will be considered truly eliminated only when We will compensate for the losses caused by Naxalism within the next 5 years and transform all these villages into vibrant, energetic tribal villages. For this purpose, to promote sports among tribals, we have started the Bastar Olympics. We have also launched Bastar Pandum to take tribal literature, language, music, art, dance, and diverse cuisines to the world stage and make them globally renowned.
Shri Amit Shah said that this must be the day for which Shaheed Veer Gundadhur had started the freedom movement. He said that while the country got independence in 1947, in our Bastar the sun of independence has risen after 31 March 2026. Shri Shah said that we will very soon compensate fully for the delay and the losses caused by it, and both the Government of India and the Chhattisgarh Government will leave no stone unturned for the development of the people of this region. He said that development is never achieved by stopping or obstructing development. Rather, only when we give momentum to development will its benefits actually reach us.
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