As there is more demand for daily jobs in the tribal-dominated left Wing Extremist (lWE) zones, the State Government has urged the Centre to release more funds for MNREGA to provide at least 200 days job opportunities to the people in these areas. The Odisha Government has recently approached the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in this regard.
Officials say that the MoRD is examining the proposal as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is favoring such a development initiative.
While under the MNREGA, Union Government is providing funds for job opportunities for 100 days, however, in the Maoist zones, people are asking for more job opportunities.
While 19 districts are affected by Maoists in Odisha, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has identified Malkangiri and Koraput as “Most lWE Affected Districts” among the 35 districts of the country, where Red rebels are most active. As the Union Government is stressing up to take up both security operations and development initiatives in these districts, as a boost for the peoples’ need, more funds allocation has been urged under the MNREGA, said sources in State Government. Several other State Governments are also asking for more funds for MNREGA and inclusion of watershed component in MNREGA to facilitate water conservation.
The Government of Chhattisgarh has also raised the issue recently with the MoRD and urged for more funds under MNREGA. Sources in the MoRD admit that such a proposal is under examination and soon a decision will be taken. Earlier Odisha has also raised the issue and Chhattisgarh is followingthe State in this regard, said sources. Funds sought for Road Requirement Plan(RRP) II are yet to be sanctioned, though, the MHA has favored such proposal long back.
Once sanctioned, Odisha is expected to receive over Rs 600 crore under RRP II and major roads in Malkangiri and Koraput districts are to be covered as this will weaken the Maoist base as connectivity acts as a major bottleneck for the ultras.