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Naxalism: Naveen seeks more Central forces

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the Centre for deployment of six more battalions of Central Reserve Police Force in the naxal-affected districts of the State.

Speaking at the meeting of the Chief Ministers of seven naxal-affected States at New Delhi on Wednesday, Mr. Patnaik also urged the Centre to provide a dedicated helicopter to the State for aerial reconnaissance and evacuation of injured personnel and quick movement of forces in naxalite-affected areas.

The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to enhance the modernisation of police forces scheme and to include a few more naxal-affected districts in the security related expenditure scheme.

Mr. Patnaik said that there was an upsurge in naxal violence during the last one year and 17 out of the 30 districts in the State were affected by Left wing extremist violence.

As the naxal problem cuts across the States, Mr. Patnaik underlined the need for joint action by neighbouring States.

He further said that number of measures had been initiated to build the capacity of the State police to deal with the naxal menace. The budget of the Home Department had been increased to Rs. 1,038 crores from Rs. 437 crores in 2000-2001 despite financial constraints.

Mr. Patnaik said that recognising the need to undertake socio-economic development of the naxal-affected areas more than 1000 hostels for girls had been opened in tribal areas to benefit over one lakh girl students.

The popular scheme of providing 25 kg of rice at Rs. 2 a kg to all the below poverty line (BPL) families was giving good results in terms of enhancing food security of tribal people in particular, Mr. Patnaik said. He further said that the government was taking active steps for implementation of the Scheduled Tribe and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006).

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Naxalism: Naveen seeks more Central forces

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