Chhattisgarh Launches Radio Campaign to Bring Maoist Cadres Back Home
In a heartfelt broadcast over All India Radio, Anil Kurami from a remote village in Bastar's Sukma district made a direct appeal to his sister. "Dear sister Maase, now known as 'Kranti' in the Maoist outfit, you left home as a teenager to join the party, and I have never seen you since. I request you to lay down arms and come back home. We all worry for you," he said, his voice carrying across the airwaves to reach deep forest zones where mobile networks fail.
Strategic Use of Radio in Remote Strongholds
With the Centre's deadline of March 31 to eliminate Maoists approaching, the Chhattisgarh government has initiated a novel outreach campaign. This effort aims to persuade armed Maoist cadres still active in forest areas to abandon violence and reintegrate into mainstream society. The campaign leverages emotional appeals recorded by family members, broadcast on All India Radio (Akashvani) across multiple Left Wing Extremism (LWE)–affected states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
Officials explain that in remote Maoist strongholds, particularly in Bastar, radio remains the most accessible and trusted medium of communication. The broadcasts, which began on February 5 and will continue until February 25, air twice daily from 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm. These time slots are strategically chosen to increase the likelihood of Maoist cadres tuning in during movement breaks and evening regrouping periods.
Voices from Home: Personal Appeals for Surrender
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also oversees the Home department, emphasized the strategic choice of radio. "Radio reaches where networks don't. It reaches routes, hideouts, and camps," he told TOI, describing the broadcasts as "voices from home" rather than mere propaganda. The messages, mostly spoken in the Gondi language, convey simple, personal pleas: "Everyone has returned to the mainstream. The government is giving the benefit of rehabilitation. You should also come back. Life will be better at home."
Sharma expressed hope that these family voices will motivate cadres to lay down their arms. "Everyone must return, somehow or the other. The time for violence is over. Just lay down the weapons and live the life the way you want to," he added, assuring that those who surrender will receive support through rehabilitation measures.
Campaign Scope and Expansion Plans
Upon closer examination, over 85% of armed cadres in forests across the country hail from Bastar or other parts of Chhattisgarh, making this campaign particularly relevant. Alongside the Sukma appeal, officials have recorded other messages, such as a nephew urging his uncle, allegedly linked to the banned outfit, to surrender for the sake of grandchildren.
The government plans to expand the outreach in the coming days by including community heads from Bastar, elected representatives, officials, and journalists. A list of active cadres and their family members has been prepared, with more messages expected to be recorded to scale up the programme.
Centre–State Coordination for Broadcast Success
This campaign follows formal communication from Home Minister Vijay Sharma to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking broadcast support for family appeals aimed at active cadres who have lost contact with their families. Prasar Bharati's directorate general of Akashvani issued an official order directing identified radio stations to broadcast the approved public service messages in coordination with designated nodal officers and district administrations.
As per the official communication, messages are being broadcast through radio stations including:
- Chhattisgarh: Jagdalpur, Saraipali, and Raipur
- Telangana: Kothagudem
- Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam
- Maharashtra: Chandrapur and Gadchiroli
- Odisha: Bhawanipatna and Bolangir
- Madhya Pradesh: Balaghat and Mandla
This coordinated effort underscores a unified approach to addressing Left Wing Extremism, blending emotional persuasion with practical rehabilitation offers to foster peace and reintegration in affected regions.
