Bastar division

Spread over a geographical area 39,117 km2, it is divided into seven administrative districts: Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Bijapur, Dantewada, Jagdalpur and Sukma.

The area is home to a number of different tribal groups (Scheduled tribes) and a variety of languages and dialects are spoken locally such as Halbi, Bhatri, Gondi ,Dhurwa etc....and Hindi is common among the people here .

Local agriculture, animal husbandry and forest based livelihood systems as well as weekly markets and transport networks have been disrupted by prolonged conflict.

In a region where standard human development indicators were relatively low to begin with, widespread absence and worsening access to healthcare, education, drinking water, sanitation and food is creating an alarming situation.

Availability of state functionaries responsible for delivering these basic minimum services in the conflict affected areas is also very low.