The Centre has formulated a comprehensive policy for the Naxal-affected States focusing on development-oriented measures as well as strengthening the operation of security agencies. The policy approved by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh set out a financial package and stipulated specific timeline for its implementation for State Governments for the development of tribal areas under Maoist influence. The new policy also envisages setting up a new counter-insurgency division in the CRPF to tackle the Maoist menace, said senior MHA officials.
The officials said that the blueprint of the new policy for the Naxal-affected States has already been handed out to the concerned States. “The focus will be more on the development of neglected regions in the Maoist affected districts of these States. Infrastructure development like communication, roads, electricity and water supply will be the thrust areas. There will be a coordination mechanism in Centre with concerned Ministries including Finance, Telecom, Tribal, Road Transport, Panchayati Raj and Environment to monitor the implementation of the new policy.
“As far as ongoing operations by the security agencies are concerned, the new policy envisages strengthening and creating of units for counter insurgency in CRPF,” said MHA officials. The new policy reiterated the stand on “talks with Maoists, only when they renounce violence and express faith in democracy”. It also moots increase in financial packages for encouraging surrender of Maoist cadre.
The development part of the new anti-Naxal policy clearly sets out responsibilities to States as well as Centre’s departments also. The major responsibility of the Centre is the strengthening of communication system and rapid and massive installation of telecom towers. The development of Highways has also been given importance in the blueprint.
According to officials, the major reason for the “disgruntlement” among the population in the Maoist-affected areas were due to the non-delivery and non-transparency of governance especially from village, land and law and Order agencies. “There are more than 50 percentage arrears, delay and disputes in settlement of title deeds of land. The States have been told to rectify this major issue, which causes public anger,” said officials.
“Another major un-settled issue is the price and right on forest produces. This is the major issue concerning the tribal population and it is effectively exploited by Maoists to turn the people against the state. To settle this issue, we have asked states to declare and increase Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the forest produces. States have been asked to intervene in this process and maintain a monitoring mechanism for its implementation and review of MSP on forest produces on regular intervals,” they added.
With regard to operations of security agencies, the new anti-Naxal policy envisages posting of “most competent officers” and fixes a three-year fixed tenure in the post in the 22 districts, identified as worst affected by Maoism. These posts include Collector, Superintendent of Police and other senior posts in the district administration.
The States have also been asked to strengthen the police force for better law and order. Financial packages have to be finalized after seeking opinion from the State administration. The officials said there is a need for rebuilding of police stations in several areas as well as setting up new police stations.
“There is a severe decrease from the average of ratio in police stations as well as personnel in the Maoist affected states with other States. This problem can be identified only by recruitment and installation of police stations. In several areas, there needs rebuilding of police stations, which were destroyed or abandoned during the peak of Maoist attacks in past years. The Centre is planning to allocate financial packages also after consulting with states,” said officials.
The policy moots for two phases for the development and building of roads in the tribal areas covering 10 states in the Central and Eastern part of country. According to the policy document in the Phase-1, 5700km and in Phase-2, 5,600 km roads are planned for building and development. The policy also envisages for better intra state co-ordination mechanism for successful operations of security forces. Centre sought responses from Chief Ministers of the States to form a co-ordination machinery for the inter-state operation.