Residents of Maruki, a remote tribal village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, have made an unusual appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Tired of waiting for a road that has remained incomplete for nearly a decade, they have demanded a helicopter instead if authorities cannot provide proper connectivity.
The Unusual Demand
In a letter addressed to Amit Shah, villagers stated that if the long-pending road project cannot be completed, the government should at least provide a helicopter to transport residents during medical emergencies. The demand, though sarcastic, reflects years of frustration over broken promises.
Years of Neglect
Village sarpanch expressed helplessness and anger, noting that residents have been demanding the road for ten years. "For 10 years, we have heard only assurances," the sarpanch said. "We approached everyone — local officials, district authorities and even the collector's office. But nobody listens."
Residents alleged that construction began nearly a decade ago but was abandoned midway after contractors dug pits for culverts and bridges. The unfinished stretch is now dangerous, with gravel, potholes, and patches that become unusable during monsoon.
Impact on Daily Life
Maruki lies in the interior belt of Sukma, where hilly terrain and poor connectivity isolate villages from basic services. Medical emergencies become nightmares, with pregnant women, elderly patients, and critically ill residents often carried for kilometers on cots to reach the nearest motorable road.
A villager named Suka highlighted the struggle to collect free ration: "We have to walk nearly 11km for ration. If someone gets a tractor ride, they charge Rs 100. The government gives us free ration, but we still have to spend money just to collect it."
Questioning Official Claims
While Maoist violence was previously blamed for stalled development, repeated official claims that Bastar and Sukma are moving toward being free of Left-Wing Extremism have prompted villagers to question why basic infrastructure remains missing. The helicopter demand, though absurd, is seen as a desperate attempt to make the system listen.
This unusual protest has sparked discussions in administrative circles and online, with many calling it a stark reminder of the gap between official development narratives and ground realities in remote tribal regions.
