Mumbai: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking at the ‘Karmayogi’ programme organized by the Kai. Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha in Mumbai, reflected on the dramatic transformation of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, once infamous for being Naxal-affected.
“Twenty-nine years ago, Gadchiroli was known as a Naxalite-affected village. The situation was extremely dire. I had gone there to campaign for the elections. The police surrounded me,” Gadkari recalled, highlighting the intense security situation that prevailed at the time.
Contrasting the past with the present, he said, “Today, there are 1,200 teachers and 30,000 students studying there.” He credited development and education as key tools that have brought about change in the once-troubled region.
Gadkari’s remarks underscore the impact of sustained government efforts to bring education, infrastructure, and opportunity to previously neglected and insurgency-hit areas. The event also highlighted stories of social transformation and progress through initiatives focused on empowerment and development.
