Odisha plans more facilities in Naxal free areas

Maoist activities have come down in Odisha and the state government is now undertaking speedy developmental activities in areas once dominated by the Left wing extremists, a top official said on Thursday. This was revealed at a high level meeting held to discuss issues to be raised during a conclave of chief ministers of the states affected by the red rebels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened the conclave on August 26 in New Delhi. "Now, our focus is on the expeditious implementation of developmental programmes in the areas freed from the Naxal effects," Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy told reporters after the meeting.

At the chief ministers' meeting, he said, the state government will seek the Centre's support for the betterment of telecommunication, roads and bridges and banking facilities in at least 551 gram panchayats which were now freed from the LWE hold. Tripathy said the Maoist activities have drastically come down in the state.

"Of the 15 districts, the number of LWE hit districts has now come down to only five," the chief secretary said adding that those liberated areas should not be again allowed to go to Maoists' hand. "This can be ensured only when we expedite developmental activities in those areas," he said.

As the once Maoist-hit district of Malkangiri recorded less Naxal activities after the construction of a bridge at Guripriya, "We plan similar roads and bridges in different parts of southern Odisha where LWE influences are felt," Tripathy said. Apart from providing better telecom, roads, bridges and banking facilities, the chief secretary said the state government has been making provision of land allotment to tribals under the Forest Rights Act, open more model schools, skill development centres and industrial training centres.

He said so far 1,41,471 tribal families have been allotted land rights under the Forest Rights Acts..

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)