Bhubaneswar, November 1 (Odisha.in) Orissa government is going to prepare a comprehensive pilot project within a fortnight for the two most naxal affected districts-Malkangiri and Rayagada in Southern Orissa ,to arrest the increasing menace of the left wing ultras.
Central government has selected eight naxal prone districts including two in Orissa where the Pilot Project will be launched. The other three states are – Chhatisgarah, Jharakhand and Bihar.
“The Pilot project envisages two prolong approach on provision of police and social security cover as well and expediting development program in the two districts most vulnerable to the Naxal activities”, said the Tarun Kanti Mishra, Principal Secretary, Home Wednesday.
“A holistic approach will be made in the action plan involving all the line departments including like, Panchayati raj, Education, Health, Rural Development, SC and ST development and Forest to ensure speedier development and smooth functioning of the delivery system”, Mishra said
“It is an effort also to bring those youths who have gone astray, to the mainstream” he said adding money will not be a problem to implement the project, which will have a human face.
“The project profile to be prepared keeping in view the local conditions and need would be submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for approval and sanction of required funds to launch the integrated plan on a pilot basis.
And the plan conceived by the center, would be extended to seven other Naxal affected Districts in a latter stage taking on account the degree of its success in the two districts”, said the Home Secretary.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the state Secretariat which discussed “formulation of action plan in Naxal affected districts and Security measures”.
Being attended by Dinesh Singh, Joint Secretary, Union Home Affairs, D.P.sihna, Joint Director, IB and senior officials of various development departments and police administration including Principal Secrertary home, T.K.Mishra, DG Police, Amaranada Pattnayak , IG operation, Manmohan Praharaj etc. Besides the collectors of Malkangiri and Rayagada also attended the meetings held in two phases.
While preparing the action plan for the project, critical gaps in developmental process will be identified he said.
Stating that in order to give an impetus to development process and to assimilate the tribal youths in the mainstream, it has been decided to relax the existing Physical fitness norms and educational qualifications in recruitment in Police and various posts like Anganwadi workers under Women and Children Department., he said.
Along with the police security cover, providing social security and food security in the vulnerable areas is most important, he said and added that steps would be taken to old age /widow and disability pension to the eligible persons yet to be covered under the scheme.
“In the two districts of Malkangiri and Rayagada, as many as 25000 persons are out of the purview of the Old age pension program”, he pointed out.
Since the road projects including the PMGSY could not be implemented due to the threat perception in the Naxal areas, it has been decided to request the centre to relax the norms of the village road connectivity project for implementation.
Besides, the state will again request the Border Roads Organisation to undertake the roads projects
He said that since the Orissa Police Housing and Welfare Corporation has the expertise in the infrastructure development works, it has been decided to involve the state sector organizations in the road and other construction activities in the naxal areas.
Similarly he said that government has proposed to provide special packages to those government servants including doctors, engineers who will serve in the naxal areas and rehabilitation schemes would be offing for the families of the naxal victims.
Odisha.in