Page 171 - Sanidhya 2025

Symbolic Victory:The demolition of Maoist memorials
Emergency Care : No timely access earlier due to during FOB establishment (like at Palnar, kochroli)
lack of roads & transport.High preventable mortality. signaled the weakening of insurgent control, opening
Improved ambulance access & faster referral to psychological space for communities to engage with
hospitals with Secured roads enabling emergency government health services without fear.
transport.
Preventive Care: Minimal vaccination & nutrition Challenges and the Road Ahead
programs earlier as naxal no go zones . Now Despite significant progress, challenges remain:
Revival of immunization and nutrition schemes as Ongoing Security Risks: Establishing FOBs like Palnar
Administration accessing villages safely with CRPF involved direct combat and IED blasts. Maoists still
cover. oppose these camps and development efforts.
Social Determinants: Earlier food insecurity due to Sustainability: Transitioning from CRPF-run medical
disrupted PDS .Now restored ration shops & camps to robust, permanent, state-run healthcare
MGNREGA work improving livelihoods by Security services requires continuous effort and investment.
enabling government service restoration. Infrastructure Gap: While roads are being built, the
need for fully equipped PHCs/CHCs with trained staff in
Beyond Healthcare: Holistic Tribal the deepest interiors persists.
Empowerment Winning Hearts Completely: Ensuring that healthcare
The benefits radiating from the FOBs extend beyond and development are perceived as genuine
immediate medical relief: empowerment, not just counter-insurgency tools, is
crucial for long-term success.
Economic Opportunities: Improved security fostered by From Battlefields to Lifelines
FOB presence enables livelihood activities, MGNREGA
works, and access to markets, improving overall The CRPF’s FOBs in Bastar represent a profound shift in
economic well-being linked to health . counter-insurgency strategy – one that recognizes that
Trust and Governance: The Bastariya Battalion lasting security is inextricably linked to human
initiative, development. By establishing a permanent security
presence in the heart of former “no-go” zones, the CRPF
has unlocked the door for roads, healthcare, and
governance to reach the most marginalized tribal
populations. While the journey to full health equity in
Bastar is ongoing, the transformation is undeniable. The
reduction in the arduous 10+ km walks for basic medical
care, the blood tests conducted in remote villages, the
roads snaking into once-inaccessible areas – these are
tangible results saving lives daily. The FOBs, conceived
for security, have become unexpected but vital lifelines,
proving that true victory lies not just in subduing
extremism, but in healing and empowering the
communities that suffered its grip the longest. The tribal
recruiting local tribal youths into the
CRPF , fostered trust. Locals familiar with the terrain and populations of Bastar are finally experiencing the right to
language became bridges between the community and health, one forward base at a time.
security/administration, facilitating healthcare outreach
and intelligence on local needs.

Dr Anantha Krishnan J,SMO/DC
Dr Anantha’s heroism illuminates the CRPF’s untold humanitarian chapters. While
headlines chronicle operations against Hidma , this mission proves that in India’s conflict
tapestry, courage wears both combat boots and a stethoscope. As the rescued mother
whispered her child’s name “Laxmi” transforms a medical miracle into a cultural emblem
of resilience It honors both the child’s survival and the CRPF’s humanitarian legacy,
embedding hope into Bijapur’s fraught landscape.