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Impact of Naxalism on Gadchiroli: Conflict, Development, and Change

Impact of Naxalism on Gadchiroli: Conflict, Development, and Change
Impact of Naxalism on Gadchiroli: Conflict, Development, and Change

Gadchiroli in Vidarbha has remained one of the most conflict-affected regions in India. Decades of armed insurgency by Maoist groups, commonly referred to as Naxalites, have left a visible mark on nearly every aspect of life in the district.


While recent years have seen a reduction in insurgent activity due to intensified counter-operations and development initiatives, the long presence of armed conflict continues to shape the region’s social fabric, economic landscape, governance systems, and security environment.



Disruptions to Social Structures


Educational access in Gadchiroli’s tribal areas has been severely limited. Many villages either lack secondary schools or only provide education up to the fourth standard.


This forces children to travel distances of 15 to 20 kilometres through forest routes, which often remain unsafe due to insurgent threats.

Such conditions have contributed directly to high dropout rates. Reports confirm that the absence of nearby education facilities has been one of the reasons many tribal youths were drawn into Maoist groups.


To address this, the government introduced mobile science laboratories to serve 16 remote Ashram schools across the district. These mobile units aim to reduce dropout rates by providing hands-on education. In addition, five armed outposts previously set up as security checkpoints were repurposed into centres for distance education.



Hundreds of former dropouts, including surrendered insurgents, enrolled in these programmes. Several ex-rebels have joined Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) courses, seeking formal qualifications with the hope of securing stable employment.


Healthcare in Gadchiroli faces similar gaps. The scattered geography of tribal settlements and poor connectivity has restricted access to basic health services. While Maoist groups rarely interfered with medical professionals, fears surrounding the conflict often led to delays in medical care.

Instances have been reported where individuals died from treatable conditions, including a case where an 18-year-old tribal girl died of a snakebite because villagers, due to superstitions, refused to assist her during menstruation.


In late 2023, a 30-bed hospital was established at Hedari under the Lloyds Metals mining project. This facility provides around-the-clock emergency care, dialysis, and minor surgical procedures.


While such initiatives aim to improve health access, many villages continue to face malnutrition, malaria, and child mortality. Infant mortality in the district, recorded at 121 per 1,000 births in 1985, has improved but remains a concern, with recent estimates hovering around 33 per 1,000 births.


The conflict has deeply affected tribal communities. The Madia-Gond tribes, who rely on forest-based livelihoods, have experienced disruptions in their daily lives due to extortion demands and violent incidents.


Over 40 villages have adopted the gaonbandi self-defense model to keep Maoists from entering their areas.

However, families impacted by insurgent violence continue to live in fear. In March 2023, a 26-year-old aspiring civil servant was killed by Maoists, forcing his family to abandon their 25-acre farmland. His brother later confirmed that they changed their voter registration address out of fear of returning to their village.


Protests against mining projects have further highlighted displacement issues. Between 2023 and 2024, residents of 70 villages staged prolonged sit-ins against the Surjagarh iron-ore project. Villagers reported that mining runoff had contaminated local streams and damaged agricultural fields.


These protests, although not led by Maoist groups, were often labelled as Naxal-linked by authorities, complicating the distinction between social dissent and insurgency.



Economic Stagnation and Development Barriers

Economic Stagnation and Development Barriers and Gadchiroli
Economic Stagnation and Development Barriers and Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli’s economy has long remained among the poorest in Maharashtra. With over 70 percent of its 14,412 square kilometre area covered by forests, only about 13 percent of the land is cultivable.


The primary occupation is subsistence agriculture, with rice being the major crop. Forest products such as bamboo, tendu leaves, and honey serve as vital sources of income for tribal communities.


Insurgency has significantly contributed to economic stagnation. Infrastructure projects, including irrigation schemes and road connectivity plans, were frequently stalled due to attacks on contractors, surveyors, and equipment.


Large-scale irrigation projects like the Yella Dam and the proposed Wadsa–Gadchiroli rail link faced years of delay under the threat of Maoist violence.

In several regions, road construction remains incomplete, and basic transportation services are absent. It was only in 2019 that a state-run bus service reached Aheri town for the first time in 77 years. Seasonal isolation also continues, with 212 villages losing road access every monsoon.


Per capita income in the district stood at approximately ₹43,000 in 2010–11, about half the Maharashtra state average for that period.


Industrial development has been minimal, except for a few units like the Ballarpur Industries paper mill and small-scale enterprises in furniture and food processing. An analysis of the district’s gross product shows that forestry and logging contribute nearly 21 percent of the local economy.



Mining has become a focal point of economic change. The Surjagarh-Konsari iron ore mining project, managed by Lloyds Metals, has attracted investments exceeding ₹20,000 crore. Reports suggest that over 6,000 locals were employed under mandatory local hiring agreements at the mining sites. Other estimates place the number at around 4,000 in the project’s first phase.


In 2025, 48 surrendered Maoists were also given jobs at the mining facility as part of rehabilitation measures.


Despite these developments, mining has sparked tensions across the district. Maoist groups have targeted these projects, burning over 80 vehicles at mining sites and issuing threats to officials associated with the industry.

Villagers continue to report environmental damage, including silted fields and health issues among livestock, linked to mining runoff.



Governance Under Pressure


Administrative functions in Gadchiroli have been under strain due to the prolonged insurgency.


Panchayat-level governance in many parts of the district remains ineffective, as elected representatives and government officers often avoid working in high-risk zones. Teachers and healthcare workers have been reluctant to take up postings in remote villages, limiting access to education and healthcare services.


Welfare schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), pensions, and housing assistance, frequently fail to reach the intended beneficiaries. Lack of awareness, combined with logistical barriers and fear of insurgent reprisals, has disrupted implementation across several regions.


Electoral participation has also been affected. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the family of the youth killed by Maoists in 2023 confirmed they had shifted their voter registration to avoid returning to their native village.


The practice of voting under armed security cover remains common across the district. Villages often report intimidation that discourages open political participation.

To strengthen governance, the government designated Gadchiroli as part of the Aspirational Districts programme. This initiative focuses on improving indicators related to health, nutrition, education, and infrastructure.



Rehabilitation policies for surrendered Maoists have also been expanded, offering financial incentives, land support, and vocational training. Mining companies like Lloyds Metals have been involved in employing surrendered cadres as part of these programmes.


Citizen militias have been mobilised through the Gram Suraksha Samiti initiative, with tens of thousands of volunteers trained and armed to prevent Maoist entry into villages. These measures aim to improve local security while supporting administrative functions in conflict-affected areas.


Security Dynamics and Counter-Insurgency Operations

Security Dynamics and Counter-Insurgency Operations in Gadchiroli
Security Dynamics and Counter-Insurgency Operations in Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli accounts for over 96 percent of all Maoist-related incidents reported in Maharashtra.


The district’s dense forests and challenging terrain have enabled Maoist groups to operate with cross-border mobility into Chhattisgarh and Telangana.


Security forces have faced consistent challenges, including ambushes and landmine attacks on patrol convoys.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred in May 2019, when a Maoist landmine blast killed 15 police personnel and their driver. Another significant encounter took place in April 2018, when the C-60 police commando unit killed 39 Maoists in one of the largest single-day operations against the insurgency.


In October 2024, an operation involving C-60 and CRPF teams resulted in the deaths of five Maoist cadres after a six-hour gunfight. Another gun battle near the Chhattisgarh border in mid-2024 left 12 Maoists dead, including a divisional commander named Laxman Atram.


Recent statistics show a reduction in Maoist presence. By the end of 2024, police confirmed the elimination of 32 Maoists and the surrender of 42 others, leaving an estimated 40 active insurgents in the district. Arrests of key leaders have also weakened the Maoist leadership structure.



In April 2025, Maharashtra police arrested Sailu Muddela, also known as Raghu, along with three associates. Raghu, who carried a bounty of ₹20 lakh, was accused of ambushing a C-60 commando unit in February 2025.

Security operations have involved the deployment of state police, CRPF units, COBRA squads, and specially trained Commando-60 teams. Over 58 armed outposts have been established across the district. In recent years, police set up around 32 forward camps deep within Maoist-affected zones, enhancing patrol coverage and response times.


These operations are supported by aerial surveillance, including drone and helicopter monitoring.


The government has combined security measures with rehabilitation strategies. Surrendered insurgents are engaged as sources of intelligence, and police regularly liaise with families of former Maoists to encourage reintegration. Employment through development projects, particularly in mining, has been used as a counter insurgency tool to reduce Maoist recruitment.


Despite these measures, sporadic attacks continue, and Maoist groups maintain limited influence in parts of the district.

Security officials acknowledge that complete eradication remains difficult due to terrain advantages and cross-border safe zones. However, the scale and frequency of attacks have decreased, and authorities remain focused on maintaining pressure through joint operations with neighbouring states.



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