Odisha on Friday demanded more funds and Central forces for effectively combating the Maoist menace in the State.
Briefing mediapersons at the end of the meeting of Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of 10 Maoist-affected States convened by the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi on Friday, Odisha Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra said the State has demanded more funds under the Centrally-sponsored Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and Security-Related Expenditure (SRE) schemes. The State Government has also demanded more Central forces for effective anti-Maoist operations, he said.
The meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh discussed issues like greater coordination between Central and State forces and setting up of more communication towers in the Maoist-hit areas.Besides Chief Secretary Mohapatra, Odisha Home Secretary Vipin Saxena and DGP Prakash Mishra were also present at the meeting.