Nagpur: For decades, Gadchiroli was held back by isolation, poor connectivity, limited educational opportunities and, above all, Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The situation kept large-scale investment and industrial development away, while generations of youngsters often had to look outside the district for jobs and opportunities.Now, with LWE eradicated from the district, Gadchiroli is entering a new phase as lakhs of crores are being invested in infrastructure, industry and development.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the guardian minister of Gadchiroli, has often spoken of making it the “first district of Maharashtra, rather than the last”. A recent TOI visit to the district showed that the change is increasingly visible not only in new roads and projects, but also in opportunities opening up for local residents.For Gaurav Meshram, whose family owns 1.5 acres of land and depends on a single paddy crop, the changing environment has created an employment opportunity that once seemed distant. He is now pursuing a diploma in manufacturing and is confident of getting a job in the industry.For youngsters like Meshram, access to skill development is emerging as an important part of the change. Free training programmes are helping local youth acquire skills relevant to emerging industries, giving them the option of building careers within the district rather than migrating elsewhere in search of work, which is now possible because of operational industry.Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd MD B Prabhakaran said the company’s expansion was being planned alongside efforts to improve the socio-economic condition of local communities. “We are providing them education, skills, job opportunities and development. Locals are our first choice. As the expansion happens, more of them will be accommodated,” he told TOI.Besides industry, the large investments planned for Gadchiroli are also bringing healthcare facilities. Multiple multispeciality hospitals are being developed by the govt and industries, addressing areas that have long remained a challenge for residents.Connectivity is expected to further accelerate the change. Gadchiroli city is set to get its first rail connectivity, with the Wadsa-Armori-Gadchiroli line targeted for completion by 2027. The proposed Samruddhi Expressway extension, Bhandara-Gadchiroli Expressway and Navegaon More-Konsari-Surjagad-Gadchiroli Greenfield Highway are expected to improve access to markets and opportunities.For residents, the transformation is more than just investment figures. It is about a young person being able to train for a job, a family having better access to healthcare, a student finding new educational opportunities and improved connectivity for people in remote areas.The transformation is still under way, and residents say development must reach the district’s interior areas too.
