PM, Chidambaram to meet CMs of Naxal-hit states, to discuss fresh counter-strategy

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will preside over a meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected states along with Union Home Minister P. Chidambram here today.

Chief Ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar and the Governor of Jharkhand will participate in the meeting that is to work out a fresh strategy to curb the Left-wing extremism. Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai and Secretaries of about half a dozen Central Ministries, who deal with development, social and infrastructure sectors, will be present, official sources said.

Apart from a review of anti-Naxal operations, the meeting is expected to discuss development schemes undertaken by the Planning Commission in detail.

The Government has consistently maintained that accelerated development and calibrated police action are the two pillars on which its anti-Naxal policy rests.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will explain the Centre's plan and approach to deal with Naxalite activities in a holistic manner in the areas of security, development, administration and public perception.

The Prime Minister, on several occasions in the past, had described the Maoist threat as the gravest challenge to the country's internal security.

According toa report in The Hindu, the central government released funds to the tune of Rs. 100 crore under the Special Infrastructure Scheme to eight naxal-affected States in 2008-09. In 2009-10, it approved Rs. 95.61 crore under the scheme but released funds worth Rs. 30 crore. In 2009-10, the Centre reimbursed Rs. 60 crore to nine Naxal-affected States under the Security Related Expenditure scheme.

The daily further said that under the Modernisation of Police Forces Scheme, the allocation of Central funds to the nine States increased from Rs. 515.08 crore in 2008-09 to Rs. 578.61 crore in 2009-10, while the all India figure under the same scheme stood at Rs. 1,150 crore in 2008-09 and Rs. 1,230 crore in 2009-10.

According to an estimate, about 40,000 sq. km. areas in the Naxal-affected States are under Maoists' control. Naxal violence has claimed the lives of over 10,000 civilians and security personnel in the last five years. (ANI)