Red flag to green steel

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron...

min read

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and pellet plant. This ‘green steel’ project, part of LMEL’s push for an integrated steel complex in the region, is functioning not just as an industrial unit but as a crucial pillar in the Maharashtra government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. So far, LMEL, in coordination with the state government and the Gadchiroli Police, has provided employment and training to 68 surrendered Maoists and 14 members of families affected by Naxal violence, a total of 82 individuals, offering them a definitive pathway back to the mainstream. The Shift The transformation begins at the company’s dedicated Lloyds Skill Development and Training Centre at Konsari. Recognizing that many former cadres had limited formal education, the company implements a structured, skill-based rehabilitation model. They are trained in essential technical and operational skills required for plant administration, civil construction, and mechanical operations. For individuals like Govinda Atala, a former deputy commander, the change is palpable. “After surrendering, I got the right to live a new life,” Atala said. “I am very happy to get this job. I am now living my life on my own; there is no pressure on me now.” Suresh Hichame, who spent over a decade in the movement before surrendering in 2009 too echoed the sentiments. He realized the path of violence offered neither him nor his family any benefit. Moreover, his self-respecct was hurt. He knew several languages and carried out several crucial tasks for the banned organization remaining constantly under the shadow of death. Today, he works in the plant, receiving a steady monthly salary that enables him to care for his family—a basic dignity the ‘Red Ideology’ could never provide. The monthly salaries of the rehabilitated workers, typically ranging from Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000, are revolutionary in a region long characterized by poverty and lack of opportunities. Trust, Stability The employment of former Maoists is a brave and calculated risk for LMEL, an industry that historically faced stiff opposition and even violence from the left wing extremist groups. LMEL’s management, however, sees it as an investment in inclusive growth and long-term stability for the district. The LMEL has emphasized the company’s commitment to training and facilitating career growth for the local populace, including the surrendered cadres. This commitment to local workforce upskilling is proving to be a highly effective counter-insurgency strategy, chipping away at the foundation of the Maoist movement: the exploitation of local grievances and lack of economic options. The reintegration effort extends beyond the factory floor. By providing stable incomes and a sense of purpose, LMEL helps the former rebels navigate the social transition. They are now homeowners, taxpayers, and active members of the community, replacing the identity of an outlaw with that of a respected employee. This social acceptance, coupled with economic independence, is the true measure of rehabilitation. The successful employment of cadres, some of whom were once high-ranking commanders, also sends a powerful message to those still active in the jungle: the path to a peaceful and prosperous life is open and tangible. It transforms the promise of government rehabilitation into a concrete reality. The plant, with its production of iron ore and steel, is physically transforming the region into an emerging industrial hub, and in doing so, it is symbolically forging the nation’s progress out of the ashes of extremism. The coordinated effort between private industry, the state government, and the Gadchiroli police is establishing a new environment of trust, stability, and economic progress, marking Gadchiroli’s transition from a Maoist hotbed to a model of inclusive and sustainable development.

Dhaka’s Delusions

Correspondent
Apr 3
3 min read

Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus peddles a dangerous narrative, but Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is having none of it.

It takes a particularly brazen sense of entitlement for an unelected bureaucrat in Bangladesh to claim that his country is the “guardian” of India’s northeastern states. But Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, has done just that. Speaking in China last week, he portrayed the region, home to over 45 million Indians, as dependent on Dhaka for access to the sea. Worse still, he suggested that Bangladesh’s geographic leverage could make the Northeast an “extension of the Chinese economy.”

This assertion of strategic condescension did not go unanswered. Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, swiftly and unequivocally condemned the remarks as “offensive and strongly condemnable.” In doing so, he reaffirmed a hard-nosed approach to India’s national security which is sorely needed at a time when revisionist forces, external and internal, continue to undermine the country’s sovereignty.

Yunus’s remarks echo the persistent vulnerability narrative surrounding India’s ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor, the 22-kilometer-wide Siliguri Corridor that connects the Northeast to the rest of India. For decades, strategic thinkers in China and even within Bangladesh have viewed this narrow land strip as a choke point that could be exploited in times of conflict.

Historically, even Indian elements have toyed with the idea of severing the Northeast from the rest of the country. One of the most notorious cases was that of Sharjeel Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student, who called for blocking the corridor during anti-CAA protests in 2019. His arrest for sedition underscored the gravity of such rhetoric. Yunus has now added his voice to this dangerous chorus.

But unlike India’s soft-spoken foreign policy mandarins, Sarma does not mince words. His response was not just about rebutting Yunus but about articulating a vision. The chief minister called for the expansion of rail and road networks that bypass the Chicken’s Neck corridor altogether.

That Yunus chose to make his remarks in China is telling. His speech played straight into Beijing’s hands. China has long sought economic and strategic inroads into Bangladesh, investing billions in infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. The unstated goal is to expand its influence in South Asia and encircle India.

By suggesting that the Northeast should be tied to the Chinese economy, Yunus not only reinforced Dhaka’s growing dependence on Beijing but also signalled that Bangladesh is willing to entertain narratives that undermine India’s sovereignty. This should serve as a wake-up call to New Delhi. While India has maintained cordial ties with Bangladesh, it must not be complacent. Dhaka’s shifting geopolitical calculations require a recalibration of India’s diplomatic and strategic approach.

Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a name for himself as one of the toughest chief ministers in India. Whether tackling illegal migration, cracking down on extremism or bolstering Assam’s economy, he has shown an ability to act decisively where others dither.

Rather than issuing a sterile diplomatic protest, Sarma laid out a blueprint for India to strengthen its Northeast, physically and politically. His demand for enhanced infrastructure is about making the Northeast a self-reliant, integral part of India’s economic and strategic architecture.

For too long, New Delhi has viewed the region through the lens of defence rather than development. Sarma’s approach flips that equation. He understands that true sovereignty comes not just from military presence but from economic integration and connectivity. By focusing on roads and railways instead of just rhetoric, he is ensuring that the Northeast will never be held hostage to geography.

If Yunus and his colleagues in Dhaka thought they could make such statements without consequences, they were mistaken. Dhaka must be reminded that any suggestion of strategic leverage over India’s territory will be met with firm resistance. Sarma’s response should be a template for how India deals with such provocations. The Northeast is an integral part of a rising India, and under leaders like Sarma, it will never be treated as anything less.

Red flag to green steel

Dhaka’s Delusions

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