Indian Overseas Bank opens Branch in Maoist Affected area in Sukma Chhattisgarh

For many years, the people living in Jagargunda, a remote area in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, had limited access to even basic facilities due to the presence of Maoists. But things are now changing for the better.

On Sunday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai took a big step forward by virtually inaugurating a new branch of Indian Overseas Bank in Jagargunda from his official residence. This is a big relief for nearly 14,000 people living in 12 nearby villages, who will now be able to access banking services close to home.

Sukma district is a part of the “Red corridor”. It is one of the most militarized districts in the country with a deployment of over 10,000 personnel. This region in India is primarily affected by the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency. The region has been under continuous attack by the Maoists who often target police personnel, military forces and political leaders. Some of the most well-known incidents around Sukma during this insurgency include the 2013 Naxalite attack in Darbha valley, the 2017 Sukma attack and the 2018 Sukma attack.

The only transport systems available is road transport. The nearest railroad station is at Dantewada while the nearest airport is in Jagdalpur. The distance between Sukma and Dantewada is approximately 80 km. The distance between Sukma and Jagdalpur is approximately 107 km.

A Historic Moment for the Region

Chief Minister Sai called this a historic day for the people of Jagargunda. He said that for many years, this area had been under the shadow of Maoist activities, which made development and public services almost impossible. But over the last one and a half years, the government has worked hard to bring peace to the Bastar region, where Sukma is located.

Thanks to these efforts, it is now possible to open bank branches in even the most remote villages. The Chief Minister said that banking facilities will help villagers receive the benefits of various government welfare schemes directly in their bank accounts, without the need to travel long distances.

Peace Through Security, Development, and Trust

The Chief Minister shared that the government is following a three-pronged approach:

1. Ensuring security,
2. Promoting development, and
3. Building trust among the people.

He praised the continuous work done by security forces and said that both the state and central governments are fully committed to improving the lives of people in these areas. Due to this commitment, villages that were once deeply affected by Maoist violence are now coming back to normal life and joining the path of development.

Banking for Every Village

The Chief Minister also reminded everyone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise to provide banking facilities in every gram panchayat (village council). As a part of this, on National Panchayat Day (April 24), the government launched 1,460 Atal Panchayat Digital Seva Kendras. These are small digital service centers that offer basic banking and government services in rural areas.

Each development block now has 10 such panchayats covered, and villagers are already using them to do basic banking. The Chief Minister assured that by next year, all gram panchayats will have access to these services.

A Personal Memory From the Finance Minister

Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary also spoke during the inauguration. He recalled his time as the District Collector of Dantewada, another area affected by Maoists. He said that back then, just traveling to remote villages was dangerous. He also remembered that in 2001, a Gramin Bank branch operated in the same building where the new Indian Overseas Bank branch has now opened. That old bank once faced a robbery attempt by Maoists.

Now, he said, it’s a proud moment to see a proper bank opening in the same place. This will make it easy for villagers to get money from government schemes like the Tendu Patta Bonus and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi right in their local bank accounts.

Deputy Chief Minister Also Participated

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also joined the inauguration ceremony through a virtual link and congratulated everyone involved.

Why This Matters

This event is more than just the opening of a bank. It shows that peace and progress are finally reaching places that were left behind for decades. Access to a bank may seem like a small thing, but for the people of Jagargunda, it means they no longer need to travel far for financial services, they can receive their subsidies directly, and they are finally being connected to the larger economy.

As more such steps are taken, we can hope to see a brighter and safer future for all rural and remote areas of Chhattisgarh.

Safety and Security of Bank Staff a Top Priority

Opening a bank in a previously Maoist-affected region is not just about setting up infrastructure — it’s also about ensuring the safety of the people working there.

The Government should provide special security arrangements to ensure the safety of the bank employees posted in Jagargunda. The local police, CRPF, and other security forces should work together to provide full protection. Regular patrolling, high-alert monitoring, and quick response teams should be used to address any situation, ensuring that bank employees can work without fear and villagers can access services peacefully.

This step will also build trust among the staff and encourage more banks and institutions to consider setting up services in similar areas.