Date: 2026-05-18Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurates Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan Suvidha Kendra in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
**Executive Summary**
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan Suvidha Kendra in Bastar on May 18, 2026, marking the transition of the region from a Naxal-affected area to a development-focused zone. The initiative aims to convert 70 security camps into tribal service centers within the next 1.5 years to provide urban-level amenities and welfare services. The government has committed to a five-year plan to compensate for historical losses and ensure the full integration of tribal communities into the national development framework.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Transition from Security to Service**
* The Netanar security camp, established in 2013, has been converted into a "service camp" (Jan Suvidha Kendra) to serve tribal populations.
* The government plans to transform 70 out of the 200 existing security camps in Bastar into Seva Kendras (Service Centres) within 18 months.
* These centers will provide banking facilities, Aadhar card registration, ration card issuance, and direct disbursement of government scheme funds.
**Welfare and Infrastructure Initiatives**
* Under the “Niyad Nellanar” scheme, the state is opening affordable ration shops and primary schools in every village.
* The government is facilitating the provision of 7 kg of rice per person per month and free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh under the Prime Minister’s health scheme.
* Essential infrastructure, including drinking water connections and cluster Common Service Centres (CSCs), is being established to bring 371 state and central schemes to the grassroots level.
**Socio-Cultural and Economic Development**
* The "Bastar Olympics" has been introduced to promote sports among tribal youth.
* The "Bastar Pandum" initiative aims to elevate tribal literature, music, art, and cuisine to a global platform.
* Developmental focus is being placed on empowering tribal women to lead regional progress following the declared end of Naxalism on March 31, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities of Bastar**
**Impact**
They gain direct access to essential government services, healthcare, and education previously hindered by Naxalism. The transition ensures they receive the same rights and facilities as urban populations.
**Action Required**
Residents should utilize the newly established Seva Kendras and CSCs to register for Aadhar cards, ration cards, and medical insurance benefits.
**Chhattisgarh Government**
**Impact**
The state administration is tasked with a rapid scale-up of infrastructure and the management of 371 welfare schemes at the village level.
**Action Required**
The government must complete the design and conversion of 70 security camps into service centers within the 1.5-year deadline and ensure the staffing of primary schools and ration shops.
**Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs)**
**Impact**
The Ministry shifts its role from active conflict management to oversight of regional rehabilitation and long-term tribal welfare.
**Action Required**
Provide necessary support and funding to rectify the "decades of devastation" within the next five years as part of the commitment to regional transformation.
Key Entities Referenced
Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan Suvidha Kendra: A public service center in Netanar, Bastar, converted from a security camp to provide welfare services, banking, and administrative facilities to tribal communities.
Niyad Nellanar scheme: A Chhattisgarh Government initiative focused on providing urban-grade amenities, schools, and ration shops to remote tribal villages in Naxal-affected areas.
Bastar, Chhattisgarh: The central geographic focus of the government's efforts to eradicate Naxalism and promote tribal-led developmental infrastructure.
Shri Amit Shah: The Union Home Minister who inaugurated the center and established a five-year roadmap for the region's socio-economic recovery.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Minister and Minister of
Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurates
Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan
Suvidha Kendra in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Netanar village in Bastar—the birthplace of the martyr Veer
Gundadhur—is revered as a pilgrimage site, establishment of
a CSC cent there following the eradication of Naxalism marks
a historic milestone
On the very soil of Bastar where Naxals once brutally
murdered six policemen, a public service centre is today
being constructed for the welfare of tribal communities
The objective behind eradicating Naxalism is not only
uprooting the naxals, it also aims at delivering welfare
services and public amenities to the underprivileged tribal
population
While the rest of the nation attained independence in 1947,
the dawn of true freedom in Bastar has risen only after March
31, 2026
With the end of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, tribal women are
poised to take the lead in spearheading the region's
development
Our government is committed to rectifying, over the next five
years, the decades of devastation and loss inflicted by
Naxalism
Posted On: 18 MAY 2026 5:03PM by PIB Delhi
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 ShriGovind 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 notallowed 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.
****
RK/RR/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2262365) Visitor Counter : 348
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Gujarati , Tamil , Kannada , Malayalam