The Aryavarth Express
Sukma (Chhattisgarh): Jagargunda, a village in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district once known as Asia’s prominent tamarind market but later crippled by decades of Naxal violence, has taken a significant step towards economic revival with the opening of its first nationalised bank branch.
With the support of the Chhattisgarh government, the Indian Overseas Bank has started operations in Jagargunda, an area that remained under Naxal dominance for several years. The development marks a major transformation for the village, where normal life and basic infrastructure had been severely disrupted.
In 2002, Naxals had blown up the local bank branch and looted cash, forcing banking services to shut down completely. The remains of the damaged bank vault still stand as a reminder of the violence that once gripped the region. Since then, residents were compelled to travel 60–70 kilometres, and in some cases up to 150 kilometres, to access basic banking facilities.
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state, intensified anti-Naxal operations and a renewed focus on development have led to visible changes on the ground. The reopening of a bank in Jagargunda has brought relief and optimism to local residents, with government scheme benefits now being credited directly into villagers’ bank accounts.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Jagargunda’s revival symbolises the shift from violence to development. He noted that over 600 people have already opened accounts at the new branch, eliminating the need for long journeys to Bijapur, Sukma or Dantewada for banking services.
Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P highlighted that sustained anti-Naxal operations, alongside development initiatives, remain a priority in the region. He said restoring banking facilities in Jagargunda and other interior areas is part of broader efforts to rebuild trade, commerce, education and healthcare, while creating better employment and economic opportunities for local youth.
Indian Overseas Bank assistant manager Shankar confirmed that more than 600 accounts have been opened so far. He added that there is no other bank within a 50-kilometre radius and residents from 14 nearby villages depend on this branch. Bank officials are also visiting remote villages to raise awareness and help people open accounts, ensuring direct access to government welfare schemes.
Jagargunda Sarpanch Nitya Kosma recalled the hardships faced by villagers over the past two decades, when the area lacked basic facilities such as schools, hospitals and ration shops. She said Jagargunda once had one of the highest Naxal influences in the district, but recent efforts by the state government have helped reconnect the village with the mainstream of development.
Kosma added that with the reopening of the bank, residents are now benefiting from schemes such as the Mahtari Vandan Yojana and other government programmes, signalling a new chapter of stability and economic empowerment for Jagargunda.
