Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has sought "maximum possible help" from the Central Government to eradicate Naxalism from the Bastar region in the coming years.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Baghel has offered some suggestions, underlining that it was important to create employment opportunities in the area so that youths who are unemployed do not join any Maoist group.
With iron ore available in plenty in Bastar, 30 percent discount provided in iron ore for setting up steel plants in Bastar will generate hundreds of crores worth of investment, providing direct and
indirect employment in the region, he said.
Difficult geographical terrrain came in the way setting up grid power and thus the establishment of a large number of solar power plants would meet the energy needs of people and their economic development could be met strategically.
The Chief Minister mentioned that there is an urgent and indispensable need to provide generous grants to establish processing units and cold chains in the region to help the Collectors push up sales of small forest produce, forest medicines and horticultural crops.Likewise, the implementation of the proposed Bodhghat multipurpose irrigation project on the banks of Indravati river will improve the irrigational and energy capacity of Bastar region. The seven districts of Bastar region are identified as aspiring districts.
It would be in the best interest that district Collectors are provided Rs 50 crore each year to develop the means of livelihood of the people, Baghel said.
"In the past years, the Government of India has generously provided assistance to the Naxalite affected states for the development of security forces, modernisation, infrastructure construction and communication tools, which have yielded positive results," he added.
"If the above suggestions are taken into implementation, it will aid in the elimination of Naxalism within the next few years in the Bastar Zone.
"It's a humble request to kindly provide the maximum possible help from the Centre for the smooth implementation of all the above stated activities."