Special plan for development of Naxal-hit districts in India

NEW DELHI - An Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for development of 35 Naxal affected districts has been approved by the Union Cabinet of India.

Under the plan, each of the 35 naxal-affected districts would get Rs. 25 crore every year for undertaking developmental work in healthcare, schooling, sanitation and drinking water sectors.

The overall plan envisages a Rs 13,742 crore outlay for 60 affected districts to be disbursed in the next three years.

The Planning Commission had been keen to increase its scope to all affected districts in this fiscal itself but Home Minister P Chidambaram’s line that the 35 worst-affected districts should take it up first.

The development work would be identified by a committee comprising the District Collector, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Forest Development Officer.

The committee would be authorised to carry out implementation of development work for which Panchyati Raj institutions would also be mobilized.

Planning Commission has been monitoring progress of the development initiatives in 35 Left Wing Extremism affected districts of the Central Government’s flagship programmes.

Total number of Naxal incidents in 2009 were 2258 and in the current year (upto October 31, 2010) are 1842.

In 2009, the number of incidents in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa were 742, 529 and 266 respectively, whereas in the current year (upto October 31, 2010), the incidents are 424, 522 and 178 respectively. (ANI)