New Delhi: CRPF bases in the remote Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh have launched a massive blood testing campaign for the locals and tribals to understand the diseases and deficiencies prevalent amongst them.
The initiative was mooted during an anti-Naxal operations and development review meeting held a few months back by Union Home Minister Amit Shah following his declaration in the state capital Raipur that India will see the end of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March, 2026.
A senior officer said that around 40 remote centres, called the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), have been created by the force in the LWE-affected districts of Sukma, Bijapur, Bastar and Gariyaband over the last three years.
These bases have been asked to launch a special drive to undertake blood tests and other medical examinations among the villagers, forest-dwellers and tribals in their respective areas of operations to understand the “prevalence of diseases and other deficiencies” in these communities, he said. Each FOB has been asked to take blood samples of at least 30-40 locals while the Bijapur, Konta, Sukma and Dantewada ranges of the force have been directed to test 500 villagers each apart from recording their basic health parameters like blood sugar levels etc.
A team of doctors and paramedics from the force have been mobilised for this task. At some locations, the Chhattisgarh Police too will hold such camps, a second officer posted in Raipur said.