PIB Vartalap Highlights Kandhamal’s Journey from Naxal Conflict to Development
Phulbani, Odisha: The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Kandhamal district administration and Odisha Police, is organising a special media workshop, “Vartalap”, in Phulbani to showcase the district’s transformation from a Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected region to a model of development and governance.
The workshop is part of a broader initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs aimed at documenting and highlighting success stories from districts that have successfully overcome the challenges posed by Naxalism.
The event will bring together government officials, police officers, and journalists to discuss Kandhamal’s journey and the measures that contributed to restoring peace and accelerating development.
The programme will be chaired by Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General of PIB and the Central Bureau of Communication, Bhubaneswar, along with senior district and police officials.
Participants will gain first-hand insights into the district’s transition through different phases, including the pre-insurgency period, the years affected by extremist activities, and the current era of stability and progress.
During the discussions, officials are expected to highlight the coordinated efforts of the administration and security forces in dismantling extremist networks and rebuilding public confidence.
The workshop will also focus on major developmental interventions that have reshaped the district’s socio-economic landscape.
Key achievements include improved road and bridge connectivity, expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, better healthcare access, and enhanced educational opportunities for tribal communities through modern residential schools.
Authorities will also present initiatives aimed at boosting livelihoods through value addition of minor forest produce and other community-driven development programmes.
The Vartalap programme is expected to provide journalists with a deeper understanding of Kandhamal’s transformation and serve as a platform to share inspiring stories of resilience, governance, and inclusive growth from one of Odisha’s most significant development success stories.
