Companies in Naxal areas must train, employ youth

NEW DELHI: The environment ministry has stepped in to ensure that benefits of projects in areas affected by Left wing extremism accrues to locals, particularly the youth. It has now made it mandatory for companies with operations in these areas to set up vocational training institutes for local youth. These companies will also be required to employ them in their operations for a certain minimum period. These will be part of the conditions of the forest clearance given to projects.

The first of the block is the Steel Authority of India. The state-owned has been granted clearance for its iron ore mining project in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. As part of the forest clearance, it will set up a vocational institute and employ the local youth at this mining project.

The Forest Advisory Committee, which deliberates on issues relating to forest clearance for projects, has recommended that NTPC, and the Central Coalfields undertake similar efforts along side expansion of their mining operations in the state.

Most districts affected by Maoist violence have a high population of Scheduled Tribes and Castes. These are also districts with high forest covers. West Singbhum, where SAIL will has its iron mining project, has a Scheduled Tribe population of nearly 54%, and forest cover accounts for 39% of the area.

The decision comes after complaints of NGOs, activists and tribal affairs experts that the attitude and approach of forest departments has led to alienation of the local people especially tribal communities in these areas. Experts say that the increased number of projects, especially mining and power projects, in these areas add to this sense of alienation. This is understood to give Maoists in these areas a convenient entry point. The government hopes to address this feeling through this initiative. In a similar effort, the GoM deliberating the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010, has suggested that 26% of the profits of mining projects be shared with the local people.