WIDER CONSULTATION: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil (in the centre) presided over the Chief Ministers' conference on naxalism in New Delhi on Monday. Among others in the picture are Chief Ministers Dharam Singh of Karnataka, Raman Singh of Chhattis garh, Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu, Arjun Munda of Jharkhand and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar Governor Buta Singh. -- PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT

NEW DELHI: The Union Government and the States affected by naxalite menace, on Monday, agreed to make the Inter-State Joint Task Forces functional "very quickly" to facilitate coordinated anti-naxalite operations.

The decision came at the first meeting of the Standing Committee of Chief Ministers of the affected States, presided over by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. As the first step, the States will appoint nodal officers who will coordinate with each other and the Centre.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Mr. Patil said a special group would be formed in every State to set up administrative structures at the State and district levels for better governance and faster socio-economic development. The States agreed to take steps to raise India Reserve Battalions and prepare action plans. "Act compassionately but in a determined manner. Use force but in a proper and discreet manner," Mr. Patil told the Chief Ministers. Mr. Patil said the States agreed to bring about development in the affected areas. They would strengthen and upgrade their police forces and improve intelligence gathering.

"Use funds fully"

Mr. Patil asked the States to make full use of the funds released under the police modernisation and security related expenditure.

The police modernisation scheme has been revised with an annual outlay of Rs. 1645 crores from the current year onwards. With matching contributions from States, this would be about Rs. 2,000 crores every year.

Under the revised scheme, all States would get 75 per cent Central funds except Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern States.

A special component of Rs. 2 crores per naxal-affected district would, however, be funded by the Centre on 100 per cent basis.

Mr. Patil said that forest law would be modified to protect the interests of those living in such areas.

A Home Ministry statement issued after the meeting said "The problem of naxalism has to be addressed by ensuring effective and sustained police action against the naxal violence and, at the same time, accelerating socio-economic development of the affected areas.''

The Chief Ministers who participated were: Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu, Dharam Singh of Karnataka, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh, Raman Singh of Chhattisgarh, Arjun Munda of Jharkhand, Babulal Gaur of Madhya Pradesh, and Navin Patnaik of Orissa. Bihar was represented by Governor Buta Singh .Union Minister A. Raja and top officials of the Home Ministry and States were also present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail