Voices From Maoists' Home: Chhattisgarh Turns to Radio Appeals to Draw Maoists Out of the Forests

RAIPUR: "Dear sister Maase, who is now known as 'Kranti' in the Maoist outfit, you had left home as a teenager to join the (Maoists) 'party' and I have never seen you since then. I request you to lay down arms and come back home, we all worry for you," these are the words of appeal by a brother Anil Kurami from a remote village of Bastar's Sukma district, not across a phone line but a broadcast over All India Radio, carrying a message meant for his Maoist sister.

In his appeal, the brother speaks of a life waiting beyond the jungle — of rehabilitation and home, hoping that his Maoist sister would feel motivated to return.




With Centre's deadline of March 31, to eliminate Maoists approaching, Chhattisgarh govt has launched a new outreach campaign to persuade armed Maoist cadres still active in forest areas to shun violence and return to the mainstream, by broadcasting emotional appeals recorded by their family members on All India Radio (Akashvani) across multiple Left Wing Extremism (LWE)–affected states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. In remote Maoist strongholds, especially in Bastar, radio remains the most accessible and trusted medium of communication.

The broadcasts began on Feb 5 and will run till Feb 25, twice daily — 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm — time bands officials believe increase the chance of Maoist cadres tuning in during movement breaks and evening regrouping.

Though these are public messages yet, highly interpersonal-- from a family member to the cadre out for some armed movement, said officials.

“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,” the messages mostly spoken in Gondi language play on the radio.

Speaking to TOI, deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma who also holds Home department said, the choice of radio is strategic, given patchy mobile connectivity in deep forest zones and the continuing presence of radio sets in interior belts. “Radio reaches where networks don’t. It reaches routes, hideouts and camps,” he said, describing the broadcasts as “voices from home” rather than propaganda.

Home Minister Vijay Sharma said the state is hopeful that family voices will persuade cadres to lay down arms and return. “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,” Sharma told TOI, adding that those who return would be supported through rehabilitation measures.

Upon looking closely, over 85% of armed cadres in forests across the country, are from Bastar or other parts of Chhattisgarh, hence the campaign begins from voices of Bastar people.

There are indications that the programme will scale up: a list of active cadres and their family members has been prepared and more family messages are expected to be recorded.

Alongside the Sukma appeal, officials said other recorded messages include appeals by a nephew urging his Chacha—said to be linked to the banned outfit—to surrender for the sake of grandchildren.

In the coming days, the govt plans to widen the outreach to include community heads from Bastar, elected representatives, officials and journalists.

Centre–state coordination for Radio broadcast

The campaign follows a formal communication from Home minister Sharma to Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking broadcast support for family appeals aimed at active cadres who are out of contact with their families.

An official order issued by Prasar Bharati’s directorate general of Akashvani subsequently directed the identified radio stations to broadcast the approved public service messages in coordination with designated nodal officers and district administrations.

As per the official communication and order, the messages are being broadcast through radio stations including Jagdalpur, Saraipali and Raipur in Chhattisgarh; Kothagudem in Telangana; Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh; Chandrapur and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra; Bhawanipatna and Bolangir in Odisha; and Balaghat and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh.