In the wake of recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, the Centre is pushing several developmental schemes in left wing extremists affected areas to prevent tribals joining hands with ultras.
The Ministry of Rural Development in association with the United National Development Programme (UNDP) is working on implementing entrepreneurial schemes in tribal dominated 82 districts of nine states. The scheme will be first implemented in maoist-hit hit areas of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand from next month. The focus would be on tribal women, adults and unemployed youth. As per the schemes, various agencies in association with NGOs will train youths to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills such as producing and marketing goods. The government will also provide small amount of financial aid to start the business to beneficiaries.
In a five-year period, the government plans to help three lakh tribal families to take up business and train 50,000 on entrepreneurial skills.
Besides, the Rural Development Ministry is also contemplating giving Below Poverty Line (BPL) status to four million households in Maoist-affected districts. Aiming to help tribals, the Centre has decided to extend the BPL status without waiting for another two years when the Socio Econmic Caste Census is expected to be completed. Granting BPL status also helps the government to provide various welfare schemes including ration, houses, old age pension and other schemes. Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said he was pushing the early legislation on pending Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act which will have several provisions to protect the interest of tribals. As the government is of the opinion that developmental works and security should be implemented together to prevent growing of left wing extremists, it is expediting the implemention of all welfare schemes.
The Department of Telecom is moving a cabinet note seeking approval of Rs 3,069-crore project to install mobile phone towers in Maoist-hit areas in the country. The BSNL, which will be installing 2,199 towers, in Maoist-hit areas to provide better telephone connectivity will also ensure sufficient diesel to towers to function without any hitch. The Ministry of Road Transport is working to give incentive packages to contractors to encourage them to engage in road building works in naxal hit areas.