Chhattisgarh: Naxal-Hit Village Witnesses Prosperity, Locals Watch Films for the First Time Since Independence

This is the first time since India's independence that villagers watched news, serials, and movies on Doordarshan. Puverti village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh underwent a revolutionary change with the advent of solar-powered TVs in the region. Men, women, and children sat around the TV and admired the new source of entertainment and knowledge.

Puverti, a place known to house top Maoist leaders Barse Deva and Madvi Hidma, got its first 32-inch television set with a set-top box on December 11. Under Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA), the project also covered solar-powered bulbs and fans for the village. The children were particularly thrilled, enjoying educational programs and cartoons. Officials termed the event a milestone in bringing development to remote tribal areas.

Earlier this year, identical schemes had been initiated in the Silger and Tekalgudam villages to reduce the Naxal-related electric issues. This is the part of the Niyad Nellanar Scheme initiated by the Chhattisgarh state government, which claims to ensure 100 per cent delivery of central and state schemes in the affected regions.

District Collector Devesh Kumar Dhruv said that the initiative has dual benefits: meeting basic needs of villagers while promoting sustainable energy and environmental conservation. The initiative is likely to reduce dependency on traditional power sources and create a model for green development in tribal areas.