Govt sanctions Rs 95.61 crore for Naxal-affected states

NEW DELHI: The government has sanctioned Rs 95.61 crore to Maoist-affected states, including West Bengal, under the 'Special Assistance Scheme' to carry out speedy development works.

The amount has been sanctioned to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal during last fiscal of which Rs 30 crore has been released as first instalment.

"Rs 10.59 crore has been sanctioned to West Midnapore district of West Bengal and Rs 3.40 crore was released during the last financial year," an official said.

Lalgarh, considered to one of the worst Naxalite affected areas, falls under West Midnapore district.

In 2008-09, the government started a new scheme for Special Infrastructure in Left wing extremism-affected states with an outlay of Rs 500 crore during the 11th Plan.

The scheme is aimed at filing critical infrastructure gaps not covered under normal schemes of the Central government. An amount of Rs 99.99 crore has been released to Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa during 2008-09.

Besides, the government has taken 33 districts as focus districts to root out the Naxal menace from there and subsequently carry out developmental activities.

In these districts, the government is implementing Forest Rights Act which will benefit ST and and other traditional forest dwellers and carrying out works under NREGA, National Rural Health Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Other schemes include Integrated Child Development Services, Drinking Water Supply, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Targeted Public Distribution System besides others.