top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated,...

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated, highlighting the dramatic turnaround. He revealed that from approximately 100 Maoist cadres on record in January 2024, the number has plummeted to barely 10 individuals whose movements are now confined to a very small pocket of the Bhamragad sub-division in South Gadchiroli, near the Chhattisgarh border. “North Gadchiroli is now free of Maoism. The Maoists have to surrender and join the mainstream or face police action... there is no other option.” The SP attributes this success to a meticulously executed multi-pronged strategy encompassing intensified anti-Maoist operations, a robust Civic Action Programme, and the effective utilisation of Maharashtra’s attractive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The Gadchiroli Police, especially the elite C-60 commandos, have achieved significant operational milestones. In the last three years alone, they have neutralised 43 hardcore Maoists and achieved a 100 per cent success rate in operations without police casualties for nearly five years. SP Neelotpal highlighted that the security forces have aggressively moved to close the “security vacuum,” which was once an estimated 3,000 square kilometres of unpoliced territory used by Maoists for training and transit. The establishment of eight new police camps/Forward Operating Bases (FoBs) since January 2023, including in the remote Abujhmad foothills, has been crucial in securing these areas permanently. Winning Hearts, Minds The Civic Action Programme has been deemed a “game changer” by the SP. Through schemes like ‘Police Dadalora Khidaki’ and ‘Project Udaan’, the police have transformed remote outposts into service delivery centres, providing essential government services and employment opportunities. This sustained outreach has successfully countered Maoist propaganda and, most critically, resulted in zero Maoist recruitment from Gadchiroli for the last few years. Surrender Wave The state’s progressive rehabilitation policy has seen a massive influx of surrenders. “One sentiment is common among all the surrendered cadres: that the movement has ended, it has lost public support, and without public support, no movement can sustain,” the SP noted. The surrender of key figures, notably that of Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias ‘Bhupathi,’ a CPI (Maoist) Politburo member, and his wife Sangeeta, was a “landmark development” that triggered a surrender wave. Since June 2024, over 126 Maoists have surrendered. The rehabilitation program offers land, housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and employment. Surrendered cadres are receiving skill training and are successfully transitioning into normal life, with around 70 already employed in the local Lloyds plant. A District Reborn The transformation of Gadchiroli is now moving beyond security concerns. With the decline of extremism, the district is rapidly moving towards development and normalcy. The implementation of development schemes, round-the-clock electricity, water supply, mobile towers, and new infrastructure like roads and bridges is being given top priority. He concludes that the police’s focus is now shifting from an anti-Maoist offensive to routine law-and-order policing, addressing new challenges like industrialisation, theft, and traffic management. With the Maoist movement in “complete disarray” and major strongholds like the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone collapsing, the SP is highly optimistic. Gadchiroli is not just getting rid of the Naxal menace; it is embracing its future as a developing, peaceful district, well on track to meet the central government’s goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Loan Scheme Could be Game Changer

Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme

The Maharashtra government’s Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme offers interest-free loans ranging from 10 to 50 lakhs to educated and competent youngsters in Maharashtra who want to start their own businesses or grow an existing one. Maratha youngsters are given loans to start their own businesses on behalf of the Maharashtra government through the Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation. Recently, the Maharashtra Government issued a Government Decision (GR) authorizing the disbursement of 30 crore rupees on behalf of the Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation.


Regarding the state’s unemployment, the Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme was established to provide employment to the unemployed Maratha population, assist in business, and improve the state’s industrial sector. This initiative provides loans for businesses to the state’s youth in a very simple manner. Under this model, if a company makes a loan, the corporation pays the interest. This helps young people start their own businesses. The corporation is working to provide loans to the youngsters of the Maratha community. In the beginning, the teenagers had a difficult time obtaining financing from the firm. But eventually, the government improved the system for the youth so that they could receive funding as soon as possible. This system sets aside 4 percent of the total budget for the disabled.


The main and the most important objective of this scheme is to provide loans under the Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme to the youth of Maharashtra state for them to start new businesses or expand current ones. To give financial help to economically disadvantaged groups, particularly unemployed youth, for them to start new businesses. Implementing plans to create jobs and self-employment prospects. To provide social development for economically disadvantaged groups. The bank provides self-employment to government-certified institutions as part of this strategy. Economically disadvantaged individuals are provided interest-free loans to establish employment groups, partnership societies, cooperative societies, corporations, LLPs, and FPO industries. The employment of the state will gradually increase, and the living standard of people will increase and get better.


In our state, there are many people who aspire to become entrepreneurs but struggle due to financial constraints. To address this issue, the state government initiated the Annasaheb Patil loan scheme. If you opt for a loan under this scheme to start your business, you will have a repayment period of up to 5 years. One of the prime conditions for the applicant is only permanent residents of Maharashtra are eligible for this loan scheme.

Comments

bottom of page