CM Munda to take part in crucial review meeting today

Strap: State performing well under IAP schemes

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi

Chief Minister Arjun Munda will take part in the crucial meeting over naxal related problems and development issues in Delhi on Wednesday called by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Chief Ministers of other states affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) would also attend the meeting.

The meeting besides discussing ongoing anti-naxal operations in the affected States will discuss development projects in the naxal affected districts under Integrated Action Plan.

“It is going to be an important meeting which will review development projects in the naxal affected districts,” State Home Secretary JB Tubid said. Recently the Centre has announced development projects under Saranda Action Plan for 56 villages falling in Saranda area of East and West Singhbum districts of the State.

The Centre released Rs 770 crore under IAP for raising infrastructure in 14 Naxal-hit districts of Jharkhand. Later on Centre conceded to the demand of Jharkhand government to include Ranchi, Khunti and Giridih districts under IAP.

The said amount would be used to create infrastructure like roads, culverts, irrigation facilities, potable water facilities and creating job opportunities for the people living in remote areas. Under the scheme each of the Naxal-violence affected districts were granted Rs 55 crore for development activities under the IAP. 

IAP a key concept of the Home Ministry to counter Maoists by focusing development on the grassroots had earlier included 60 districts across nine naxal affected states. The number shot up to 78 after Centre added 18 new districts.

Jharkhand has kept an impressive track record at least on the paper. Out of Rs 630 crore allotted to Jharkhand under IAP in the fiscal years 2010-11 and 2011-12, the state government utilised Rs 377.45 crore for 14 districts. Compared to national average of 51.14 per cent, Jharkhand has spent 59.91 per cent.

But Jharkhand lags behind in comparison with Andhra Pradesh, which utilised 71 per cent of the total allocated fund.