Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday virtually addressed the launch of the second phase of the Divyang Seva Camp under the ongoing ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, aimed at providing assistive devices to persons with disabilities, including victims of Naxal violence. The campaign marks 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service, first as Chief Minister and later as Prime Minister. Shah said that more than 3,600 persons with disabilities benefited from a camp organised in Jagdalpur from October 5 to 7, including over 1,570 from Bastar. He said, decades of Naxal violence had caused immense suffering among tribal communities, and stressed the need to rehabilitate victims and restore their dignity. The three-day camp, which began in Dantewada on Thursday, will provide artificial limbs, wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches, hearing aids and other assistive devices to 768 persons with disabilities from Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts. Of these, 509 beneficiaries are from Dantewada, 197 from Bijapur and 62 from Sukma.

 

The camp is being organised with the support of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, and partner organisations. Shah said, the Centre and the Chhattisgarh Government were committed to ensuring rehabilitation and improving the lives of Naxal violence victims. He called for eliminating the remaining traces of Naxalism and transforming Bastar into a peaceful, prosperous region. Highlighting development initiatives, he cited the Bastar Olympics, Bastar Pandum, Niyad Nellanar scheme and the Chief Minister’s Samuhik Bus Yojana.

 

He said these initiatives were helping revive tribal culture, encourage youth participation in sports and improve access to basic services. Shah also outlined rehabilitation and development measures for former Naxalites and affected communities. Around 8,526 Naxalites have surrendered, while 455 have been provided jobs and 129 allotted land. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 4,014 beneficiaries have received houses. Other measures include issuing 6,763 ration cards, providing free electricity to 2,808 families and initiating 372 road projects. He said, more than 500 security camps had been established, of which over 200 would be converted into Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera. Government officials would work from these centres to extend public services and accelerate Bastar’s development. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the programme virtually. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Bastar MP Chaitram Atami, State Commission for Women member Ojasvi Mandavi and other public representatives were present at Dantewada.