The Chhattisgarh Government’s implementation of the Naxalite Surrender/Victim Relief & Rehabilitation Policy-2025 marks a strategic shift in its decades-long battle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). This policy is a clear message of peace, not conflict as the state’s preferred route forward to heal communities long fractured by Left-Wing Extremism. By setting up structured district-level committees and appointing nodal officers at the grassroots, the policy ensures that both surrendered Naxalites and victims of Maoist violence receive timely and meaningful support. The inclusion of all stakeholders under the Collector’s leadership creates a coordinated mechanism for effective delivery of benefits. Importantly, the government’s resolve to account for every victim since the state’s formation reflects a deep and overdue acknowledgment of past traumas. For villages across Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur and Bastar, where the line between survival and silence is often thin, true peace will come not just from weapons being laid down, but from basic rights being upheld.

 

The policy must therefore be followed up with urgent investments in road connectivity, schools, health centres, and guaranteed livelihood opportunities. Trust is the foundation of this process. Appointing nodal officers at the sub-divisional level is a good step, but these officers must be made accessible and accountable. Public grievance camps, local language communication, and tribal representation on committees could further ground this initiative in the region’s socio-cultural context. Employment generation through skill development, tribal entrepreneurship programs, and infrastructure projects must be prioritized in LWE-affected zones. Equally commendable is the government’s openness to engage in dialogue with Naxal factions. Home Minister Vijay Sharma’s message—that the state is ready to talk, regardless of the size of the group willing to come forward—demonstrates political maturity and a long-term vision. His insistence that dialogue cannot substitute decisive action sends a necessary warning that while peace is pursued, security cannot be compromised.

 

The olive branch extended by Naxal leaders, especially their statement distancing themselves from violence against police personnel and their support for social infrastructure like schools and Anganwadis, is a rare and welcome gesture. It is now imperative that both sides institutionalize these overtures into a credible and consistent dialogue mechanism to build trust. Rehabilitation should not end with compensation or resettlement. Long-term psychological and social support—especially for women and children impacted by Naxalism—must be integrated into the relief strategy. Cultural integration, education access, and community engagement can be powerful tools in preventing a relapse into conflict. What Chhattisgarh is attempting is not just a rollback of extremism—it is a rebuilding of faith in governance. For too long, development and dialogue were both missing. This policy attempts to course-correct both. If executed with urgency and empathy, it can turn conflict-hit zones into stories of revival, where progress is not imposed from above but cultivated from within.