RAIPUR: After an aggressive campaign against Maoists, inflicting the heaviest toll on insurgents in any year, the Vishnu Deo Sai govt in Chhattisgarh aims to move to phase-2 for Bastar – to turn the once-battleground into a tourism destination. “Chitrakote Falls (in Bastar district) is as beautiful as Niagara. We will turn it into an asset for the state,” Chhattisgarh CM Sai told TOI in an exclusive interview.
“We are focusing on all aspects of Bastar to make it Maoist-free, including offering peace talks. We have a new rehabilitation policy to motivate Maoists to rejoin the mainstream. We are giving 15,000 houses to surrendered naxalites and victims of Naxal violence, and will also provide skills training and pay a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month,” said Sai. More than 200 Maoists have been eliminated in Bastar division this year, and govt’s twin strategy of tough offensives with welfare projects has limited Maoist influence to small pockets.
“With Maoists fading away, Bastar will emerge as one of the most popular tourist spots. Dudhmaras village of Bastar has recently been recognised as the best tourism village by UNWTO, which gives us a lot of hope,” Sai said. He said Bastar’s citizens want to be “connected with development”, and government is doing just that.