Planning Commission to prepare IAPs for Naxal-affected areas: Joshi

NEW DELHI - Union Rural Development Minister CP Joshi on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that as per Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s budget speech for 2010-11, the Planning Commission is to prepare Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) for the focus districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) to address critical gaps in development.

“Planning Commission has initiated the process of preparation of IAPs, including for 35 LWE affected districts, with the help of State Governments, district administration and elected local government representatives,” said Joshi.

“Details of the IAPs are in the process of finalization,” he added in reply to a written question whether the Government has planned any scheme for the development of naxal affected districts and the details thereof along with the salient features of the proposed work/plan prepared by the Planning Commission and whether any changes proposed/recommended in the Scheme by the Ministry to the Planning Commission. (ANI)