With the help of two-pronged strategy – security to people and development of backward region – the Chhattisgarh Government has succeeded in containing the Naxal violence in the region, State Home Minister Nanki Ram Kawar said in Delhi, an official statement said here on Monday.
“The Chhattisgarh Government has taken concrete measures in the naxal affected areas. We find that such welfare measures and other initiatives of the state government, the naxal menace has been containe,” he said while addressing the Chief Ministers’ conference as representative of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh here.
Mr Kawar said the state government has received support from the Central government in fight against left Wing Extremism (lWE) and urged the Centre to contribute more into the anti-naxal campaign as “there is a constant need of help from the Centre”.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde chaired the conference, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs.Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibbal, Union Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Union Road Transport Minister C P Joshi, Chief Minister of various States and other ministers were present at the conference.
Demanding special facilities for 10 naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh, the home minister said inclusion of these districts in the list of naxal-affected districts will help in providing basic amenities to the people and thereby curbing the menace. He informed the meeting that 18 armed battalions have already been working in maintaining law and order situation in the state and demanded six more battalions to maintain public order.
Appraising the conference of the initiatives taken by the Chhattisgarh Government, the minister said number of districts in Chhattisgarh has been increased from 16 at the time of formation of the State to 27 districts, bringing the administration closer to the people of the State.
He said two special authorities have been constituted in Tribal sub-plan area to improve the basic infrastructure and development as per the local needs and a separate development group in Bastar region has been formed to promptly address the needs of locals.
Forty-five per cent of the total budget has been allocated for the 44% population, comprising SC/STs, he said and added that Public Service Guarantee Act has been enforced in the State in order to make the administration responsible to people’s needs.
He emphasised that public order could be maintained only when there is no trace of hunger, illiteracy and
unemployment.
Elaborating on the measures taken by the state government for development of backward regions, the minister said initiatives such as Core PDS, Food Security Bill, ‘Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Beema Yojana’, ‘Sanjivani Kosh Yojana’, Chhattisgarh Rajya Kaushal Vikas Mission and addition of 50 days to the existing provision of 100 days under MNREGA have helped in increasing the strength and efficiency of the Government.
He maintained that such initiatives will also increase the efficiency of the agency responsible for maintenance of public order.
The Home Minister informed that strength of police force has been increased up to three times whereas the budget for the same has been increased up to six times.
He said that the state has enacted Chhattisgarh Police Act 2007 which provides provision for the constitution of Police Accountability Authority.
He further said that Chhattisgarh has already implemented many recommendations of Administrative Reforms Commission. He also highlighted the that there has been no serious law and order problem in Chhattisgarh in the past two years and Naxal-related offences have also shown a declining trend since few years in the State.