India, April 8 -- The roof no longer leaks and even during the last spell of rain, the floor remained dry. For Sodi Hungi of Oiras, a remote village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, this has been the most noticeable change.

Sukma, among others, was once counted among the worst Maoist-affected regions. The central, as well as the state government, have now claimed to have wiped out the insurgency completely. While that claim will endure its own test of time, some changes, through a special housing project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), have already begun to show.

The project is designed specifically for families affected by Naxal violence and surrendered Naxalites. According to the Chhattisgarh Department of Public Relat...