Government working to boost developmental needs of naxal-hit areas

NEW DELHI: Government is working on boosting developmental needs of naxal-hit areas as well as bringing militants under the mainstream, the Lok Sabha was told today.

Stating this while replying to questions, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said the Centre has spent over Rs 9000 crore so far for security and developmental purposes in 106 districts affected by Left Wing Extremism.

He said the government had recently called a meeting of six states affected by the LWE as part of its exercise to develop a unified policy covering all naxalism-hit states.

He denied any move to bring the Integrated Action Plan, which caters to the developmental needs of the affected region, under the administrative control of the Home Ministry.

"There is no such decision," Chaudhary said in a reply to the question.

Asked about rehabilitation package offered to surrendered naxals, he said the policy is formulated by states concerned and such extremists are given Rs 2.5 lakh.