Sitagaon (Chhattisgarh) [India]: In a significant step toward rural development and welfare in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has inaugurated a free field veterinary hospital in Sitagaon, situated in the Mohla Manpur district of Chhattisgarh.
The initiative, led by the 27th Battalion of the ITBP, comes shortly after a visit to the region by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister. It marks the first veterinary facility of its kind in the region, aiming to serve the needs of approximately 20 surrounding villages where livestock is integral to rural survival and economy.
“The hospital will provide free treatment for over 12,000 animals, with services delivered by a dedicated team of veterinary specialists and medical personnel,” said Commandant Vivek Kumar Pandey during the hospital’s inauguration.
The opening ceremony drew a large gathering of villagers and their animals. ITBP personnel also conducted awareness campaigns covering hygiene, child health, nutrition, and environmental conservation, encouraging villagers to adopt sanitation practices and engage in tree plantation efforts.
This veterinary hospital complements the ITBP’s existing field hospital for humans in Sitagaon, which has treated over 2,100 patients in less than a year. That facility also offers services such as Aadhaar verification and treatment for malaria, infections, injuries, and chronic diseases.
Chief Minister Baghel, during his visit to the Sitagaon COB (Company Operating Base) on May 16, praised the ITBP for its 15 years of dedicated service in restoring peace and enabling development in the region.
“The ITBP continues to reinforce its role not just as a security force, but as a critical development partner in public welfare and community outreach,” Baghel had remarked.
This new initiative reflects ITBP’s growing role in humanitarian and developmental services in remote, conflict-affected regions, highlighting a shift from solely tactical operations to holistic nation-building efforts.