New Delhi [India], June 7 (HBTV): From the launch of the first-ever bus service in Maharashtra’s Katejhari village to remarkable academic achievements in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spotlighted the transformation of once-Maoist-dominated regions into centres of development and resilience.

Speaking during episode 122 of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister narrated the inspiring story of Katejhari village in Gadchiroli district, a region previously affected by Maoist violence.

He said the villagers had waited for years for a bus service, and when the first bus finally arrived, they celebrated its arrival with drumbeats.

‘It is such a common thing to travel by bus. But I want to tell you about a village where a bus arrived for the first time. The people there were waiting for this day for years. And when the bus arrived in the village for the first time, people welcomed it by playing drums. There was a paved road in the village; people needed it, but a bus had never run here before. Why? Because this village was affected by Maoist violence,’ PM Modi said.

‘This place is in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, and the name of this village is Katejhari. This change in Katejhari is being felt in the entire surrounding area. Now the situation here is rapidly becoming normal. Due to the collective fight against Maoism, basic facilities have started reaching even such areas. The villagers say that with the arrival of the bus, their lives will become much easier,’ he added.

The Prime Minister also highlighted educational progress in formerly Naxal-affected regions, particularly in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, where students have achieved academic success despite challenging circumstances.

He noted that Dantewada recorded an approximately 95 per cent pass rate in the 10th and 12th board examinations. The district topped the Class 10 results and secured the sixth position in Class 12 results within the state.

‘In Mann Ki Baat, we have already discussed the Bastar Olympics held in Chhattisgarh and the Science Labs in Maoist-affected areas. The children here have a passion for science. They are also doing great in sports. Such efforts show how courageous the people living in these areas are. These people have chosen the path of improving their lives amidst so many challenges,’ PM Modi said.

‘I am also very happy to know that the results of Dantewada district in the 10th and 12th examinations have been excellent. With about a 95 per cent result, this district topped the 10th results. In the 12th examination, this district secured the sixth position in Chhattisgarh,’ he added.

As Katejhari witnesses infrastructural progress and Dantewada celebrates academic excellence, PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat highlighted how development is reaching even the most remote and once-troubled parts of the country, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive growth.

(ANI)