CRPF opens new educational facilities in insurgency-hit Sukma district

Sukma: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has built a model school at its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Tekalgudem, marking a significant advancement in education in the insurgency-affected Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, which was formerly notorious for its deadly Naxal assaults.

Officials claim that the Tekalgudem model school has been outfitted with contemporary amenities. The establishment of the school was greatly aided by Company Commander Ajay Tyagi, Commandant Rakesh Chandra Shukla, and 150th battalion Commanding Officer Mukesh Kumar.

“With the support from CRPF, district administration and local police, schools are being operated in interior areas, which are facing the problem of insurgency, as a part of the naxal eradication campaign,” Kiran Chavan, the superintendent of police in Sukma.

According to the SP, two schools have opened in Tekalgudem and Puvarti, which are regarded as the native villages of Naxal leader Hidma. The youngsters are benefiting from these schools.

According to authorities, children from Anganwadi centers to fifth-grade students are getting sports supplies, books, and rations.

Additionally, the officer said that camps were established in Tekalgudem and Puvarti last year, with the aim of gaining the trust of the locals and raising awareness of government initiatives and the ambitious ‘Niyad Nellanar’ plan. The security forces had some difficulties at first as the villages were not getting in touch with us, but we were able to gain their trust in the end.

A villager commended the paramilitary group for the school’s creation and expressed thanks. In the past, the community lacked educational facilities, and if someone tried to establish a school here, the naxals would resist and resort to drastic measures (murder, assault, etc.), leaving the kids without access to any kind of education. Following the 150th battalion’s arrival, a school was established, and the village’s youngsters now routinely attend it. In addition to instruction, the school provides meals. Prior to the CRPF’s arrival, the region lacked road access; nevertheless, subsequent road construction made our mobility easier.

It is noteworthy that Tekalgudem endured decades of Naxal terror. 22 Jawans were murdered in 2021 when members of the outlawed group assaulted security forces participating in an anti-Naxal drill. In addition, the jawan was eventually freed when the naxals kidnapped a soldier from the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). In a similar vein, Naxals assaulted a camp set up by security personnel in the vicinity, killing three Jawans and injuring eighteen more.

These places were left undeveloped for many years, and the local population is still without access to essential amenities like clean drinking water, roads, and power.

Following the CRPF’s deployment, the naxal-affected regions began to undergo substantial change, not just in terms of security, but also in the way that the security forces tried their best to address the issues that the locals were facing.