Page 170 - Sanidhya 2025

purpose was security – acting as launchpads for chances for critical cases like snakebites, complicated
operations and disrupting Maoist supply lines – their deliveries, or severe trauma.
secondary impact on healthcare delivery has been Supply Chains for Medicines : Roads allow consistent
revolutionary: delivery of essential medicines and vaccines to remote
areas and to new health outposts established near
Bringing Healthcare to the Doorstep: FOBs FOBs.
became natural hubs for immediate medical intervention.
Recognizing the dire needs, the CRPF integrated Facilitating Broader Development and Health
large-scale medical camps into their FOB operations. System Strengthening: The security umbrella provided
These camps provided critical first aid, treatment for by the FOBs allowed district administrations and state
common diseases, maternal check-ups, and basic departments to finally extend their reach:
medicines. For instance, the newly established FOB at
kochroli by 222Bn CRPF treated 150+ locals in its very Restoration of Services: Dislocated Fair Price Shops
first medical camp . By January 2025, a massive (PDS) providing ration supplies – crucial for nutrition –
blood-testing campaign was launched across were restored to villages, eliminating long, dangerous
approximately 40 FOBs, systematically walks for food
New Health Infrastructure: Improved security enabled
the opening of new Sub-Centers, PHCs, and
Anganwadis closer to remote habitations . Mobile
health units became safer to operate.
Revival of Government Schemes:Implementation of
national health programs (immunization, maternal

screening tribal populations for
diseases and deficiencies – a crucial first step in
understanding and addressing long-ignored health
burdens .

Securing the Path for Roads and Infrastructure:
The physical presence of FOBs provided the essential health, nutrition programs) and social schemes like
security cover for long-stalled road construction projects. MGNREGA improved, addressing the socio-economic
Roads are the lifeline for healthcare access. The CRPF determinants of health .
explicitly highlighted that its new base in Bijapur was
strategically placed to enable the construction of the Impact of CRPF FOBs on Tribal Healthcare
crucial roads connecting Bijapur to interior areas under Access in Bastar
enhanced security.
Physical Access: Earlier 10-15+ km walks to nearest
Motorable roads mean: PHC/CHC now Motorable roads developing near
FOBs & medical camps at FOBs as Road construction
Reduced Travel Time: Journeys that took hours or under security cover done & FOBs act as healthcare
days on foot can now be covered in a fraction of the delivery points.
time by vehicle or bicycle. Medical Services: Virtually non-existent in core areas
Accessible PHCs/CHCs: Villagers can finally reach earlier. Blood testing campaign done by CRPF to
existing government health centers within a detect nutritional defects in local populations and
reasonable timeframe during emergencies. treatment camps organises & planned follow-up care
Functioning Ambulances: Emergency transport was done by CRPF medical teams conducting
becomes viable, drastically improving survival systematic health initiatives.