Loksparsh News Network
Omprakash Chunarkar,
Gadchiroli, June 6: In a region long known for its shadows of insurgency, Gadchiroli witnessed a historic and heartwarming moment on Friday — a symbolic celebration of peace and transformation. As part of ‘Project Sanjeevani’, a collective wedding ceremony was held for former Naxalites who had surrendered under the state’s rehabilitation policy. The event was graced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Minister Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, and B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEEL), alongside senior officials from the state government and police force.
More than just witnesses to matrimony, the dignitaries present were participants in a deeper narrative — one of redemption, dignity, and social reintegration.
What made the ceremony especially meaningful was that more than half of the newlyweds are currently employed by LMEEL. The company has offered employment to 65 surrendered ex-Naxals so far, not merely fulfilling a corporate social responsibility but pioneering a new paradigm where industry becomes a partner in sustainable peace.
Chief Minister Fadnavis praised this initiative, stating, “Rehabilitation must go beyond surrender. It must lead to dignity, opportunity, and belonging. Companies like Lloyds stepping forward to support this vision are not only strengthening our efforts but are setting an example for the entire nation. Gadchiroli must transform into an industrial district rich in employment, and this kind of collaboration is vital.”
According to LMEEL MD B. Prabhakaran, among the 65 employed individuals, 27 work in administrative roles, 29 in civil and construction, and 9 in mechanical departments. Most of them had picked up arms in childhood, but today, their hands are engaged in production and progress. Their faces now reflect a new hope, a sense of self-worth, and a future once unimaginable.
Take Asin, for instance — a young man who once lived in the forest as a guerrilla fighter.
“Back then, I had nothing but a gun. Now, I have a job, a home, a family. Lloyds didn’t just give me employment — it gave my life meaning,” he says, his voice a mix of resolve and gratitude.
Gadchiroli Police’s ‘Project Sanjeevani’ is emerging not just as a model of security-led intervention but as a benchmark in holistic social rehabilitation. With the active participation of private industry, particularly LMEEL, this initiative has gained both credibility and momentum. It is, quite literally, the manifestation of the idea: “Drop the gun, take up work.”
For the citizens, officials, and police present at the wedding, the smiles on the faces of the newlyweds were a profound symbol — that real change is not only possible but already underway in Gadchiroli. Once the hands that held guns are now crafting homes, nurturing families, and building futures.
This is not just a marriage ceremony. It is the dawn of a new Gadchiroli — one rooted in peace, purpose, and prosperity.