Cabinet approves special plan for Naxal-hit districts

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet tonight approved a special plan for development of 35 districts affected by Naxalism to address issues like healthcare, schooling and drinking water.

Under the special plan, each of the 35 naxal-affected districts would get Rs 25 crore every year for undertaking developmental work in healthcare, schooling, sanitation and drinking water sectors.

The implementation of the plan, approved at a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will be monitored at the levels of district, state and the Planning Commission to ensure proper results, sources said.

The development work would be identified by a committee comprising the District Collector, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Forest Development Officer.

The committee would be authorised to carry out implementation of development work for which Panchyati Raj institutions would also be mobilised.