250 police stations in affected areas to be facelifted
The Centre is planning to deploy more paramilitary forces to intensify the operations against the ultras in Naxal-affected States. As part of the new strategy, the Union Home Ministry will provide additional battalions of the paramilitary forces to tackle the menace, particularly in the worst affected 23 districts, most of which are located in central and eastern India.
These troops will be dispatched in addition to the existing 90 battalions (90,000 personnel) deployed in nine Naxal-hit States — Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, official sources said here on Monday. The Home Ministry will also aid in reconstruction and fortification of 250 police stations located in Maoist- affected zones.
Apart from strengthening the infrastructure of these police stations, the Centre will provide additional troops and sophisticated weapons to the personnel deployed there. This is in addition to 400 police stations the Union Home Ministry is currently fortifying under a similar plan. The Centre is also mulling over a proposal to make 4-5 development hubs in 23 worst hit districts with modern amenities, including construction of modern medical facilities, good academic institutes, build communication infrastructure and a proper security apparatus.
The Ministry will also upgrade the existing jungle warfare training institutes with expanded facilities for advance training of the troops. The Integrated Action Plan, currently being implemented by the Planning Commission in 88 selected tribal and backward districts for accelerated development, will be taken over by the Home Ministry as the Centre is disbanding the plan panel.
The aim of this initiative is to provide public infrastructure and services in 88 affected or contiguous districts to wean away the youth from the stranglehold of the Naxals.
Under the IAP, Rs 25 crore and Rs 30 crore were released to 60 districts during the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively for upgradation of infrastructure.The scheme has now been extended to 88 such districts. The nature of major works/projects taken up by the districts under the IAP include construction of school buildings, school furniture, anganwadi centres, drinking water facilities, rural roads, panchayats bhawan, livelihood activities, skill development and irrigation works.