National   

Centre’s strategy to deal with naxalite problem

NEW DELHI: The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) of the Union Home Ministry has identified two districts in Chhattisgarh — Dantewada and Bijapur — for fast-track implementation of the Centrally sponsored development schemes to deal with the naxalite problem there.

The Centre hopes to convert the districts into models of development and take up similar initiatives in other affected States.

Dantewada and the newly carved-out district of Bijapur are the worst naxal-affected regions of Chhattisgarh as the thick forests provide shelter to the activists and proximity to Andhra Pradesh enables them to flee across to the neighbouring State when the security forces step up pressure.

The IMG — established by the Centre to deal with various aspects of the naxal problem — met here last week to review the pace of development in the affected districts of various States. It decided to pick these two districts for speedier implementation of the developmental schemes.

The group agreed to take up for implementation on a priority basis the district plans prepared by the State government. The Central schemes to be implemented at a faster pace include Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Integrated Child Development Scheme.

The meeting decided to expedite the clearance process for the developmental schemes.

A Central team would visit the State, if need be, to review the progress, Home Ministry sources told The Hindu.

The Centre will also set up transit hostels and schools immediately to facilitate the movement of government officers and employees. These transit hostels would be high security zones, sources said.

The IMG recently identified eight districts in four naxal-affected States for development but decided to focus on the two districts.

The Union Cabinet Secretary and a team of officers visited various affected States last year. The initiatives are a fallout of that visit.

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

Stories in this Section

CBSE questions to test thinking skills
Assam CPI(M) for joint fight with non-Congress, non-BJP parties
Mayawati threatens to withdraw support to Centre
Mulford’s statement condemned by CPI
More investment sought in public healthcare
UNPA blames UPA for farmers’ plight
Centre’s strategy to deal with naxalite problem
Naval officer dead
CPI(M) leader Ranganekar passes away
Walk for life
Sun shines on Srinagar
Ban on shuttlecock imports to stay
Tejas flight, with drop tanks, successful

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu