A New Dawn in Bastar: From Naxal Violence to Joyful Celebrations

CM Kanya Vivah Yojana Sparks Fresh Beginnings for Surrendered Naxals and Victims

Raipur : Once known for the echo of gunfire, Bastar in Chhattisgarh is now resonating with the sounds of celebration and hope. Under the good governance of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and the impactful Naxal rehabilitation policies of the state government—especially the Niyad Nellanar Yojana—many surrendered Naxals and victims of insurgency have turned away from violence to embrace peace and prosperity. One significant symbol of this transformation is the CM Kanya Vivah Yojana, which has enabled mass wedding ceremonies across the Bastar division.

On January 13, 2025, at a mass wedding held in Sukma’s Mini Stadium in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, two couples—Mahesh Mosam and Hemla Munni, and Madkam Pandu and Ravva Bhime—tied the knot in a traditional Vedic ceremony. All four had surrendered in June 2024, leaving behind their lives in the Naxal ranks. CM Sai not only blessed the newlyweds but also announced development projects worth ₹206 crore for Sukma district. The couples shared that the state’s welfare-driven policies encouraged them to renounce violence and start anew with dignity and purpose.

In Dantewada, a similar event on December 20, 2024, witnessed 220 couples getting married at the temple premises in Mendhka Dobra under the same scheme. Among them was a touching union between a Naxal-affected woman from Puvarti village—once a Naxal stronghold—and a jawan stationed there. The village, formerly under the grip of notorious Naxals like Hidma and Deva, is now moving steadily toward peace and progress thanks to government initiatives and security presence. Two more couples from Dhurli village—Seema Bhaskar & Ramesh Bhaskar, and Sundari Telam & Dhannu Kunjam—also married under the Niyad Nellanar Yojana. Each couple received ₹35,000 transferred directly into the bride’s bank account.

The CM Kanya Vivah Yojana, led under the guidance of Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Laxmi Rajwade, has been a lifeline for underprivileged families in Bastar. The scheme provides ₹50,000 in assistance per couple—₹35,000 of which is directly credited to the bride’s account. Since the beginning of CM Vishnu Deo Sai’s tenure, over 15,000 couples have been married under this initiative.

The success of these programs is writing a new chapter of peace and development in Bastar. The state’s anti-Naxal actions and welfare schemes are empowering villagers with hope. Surrendered Naxals are now gaining access to employment, housing, and financial support, allowing them to live with dignity. These mass weddings have demonstrated that love, trust, and compassion can overcome violence and hate. Bastar is steadily emerging from the shadows of extremism into a future marked by peace, love, and growth.