Chhattisgarh will soon get rid of Naxal menace: Governor

RAIPUR: Hailing the efforts of security forces and locals for maintaining peace in the Naxal-affected pockets of Chhattisgarh, Governor Balramjidas Tandon today exuded confidence that the state would soon be "free from the clutches" of Maoist menace.

"Security measures and development activities have gained momentum in the Maoist-hit Bastar region. Security forces and local people have played a crucial role in maintaining law and order (in the region) and protecting unity and integrity of the country," he said addressing the 67th Republic Day function at the police line grounds here.

"I am confident that the state will soon get rid of Maoist menace and Bastar will witness the light of inclusive development," he said.

Tandon also lauded measures being taken by the state government for the welfare of drought-hit farmers.

"This year, Chhattisgarh is going through a severe drought situation and around 80 per cent of the tehsils in it were drought-affected. In this situation, the state government is with farmers and making every possible effort to provide relief," he said.

According to him, financial assistance, waiving farm loans and free power supply to farmers were some of the steps taken by the state government.

Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching 'PM Crop Insurance Scheme', he said the farmers of Chhattisgarh will be benefited of it.

Speaking on the clean India campaign, the Governor said, "We are swiftly heading to achieve goal of 'Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat' (clean India, healthy India) with the concentrated efforts of administration, public representatives and community."

"I am happy that 1,200 villages of the state have been freed from open defecation while the target is to cover 5,000 villages under the campaign by the end of this year," he said.

"The state government has been giving special attention to the development of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes, labourers and down trodden.

"A special programme has been launched for the inclusive development of special backward tribes and the target under it will be accomplished within two years," the Governor added.