Bhubaneswar, Feb 20: Prepared to hold talks with Maoists if they abjure violence without any condition, the Centre Friday announced it will revive the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) scheme for overall development of backward and tribal dominated districts in the country.
“We are reviving the IAP for the development of backward areas. The Centre also has certain schemes for their improvement of poor people,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters after holding an hour-long security review meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.
Stating that the economic and social improvement of the poorest of the poor in the country was priority of the central government, Singh said they will revive the IAP.
Asked about police modernisation programme which was also stopped by the NDA government along with the IAP, Singh said: “police modernisation scheme may be revived in the coming budget.”
During the meeting, the state government drew attention of the Home Minister to halt in developmental activities in the backward and tribal dominated areas due to discontinuation of funds under the IAP. At least 15 districts of Odisha were availing Rs 25 crore per annum under the IAP.
The fund under IAP was being used to develop infrastructure like roads, drinking water and bridge. Though the IAP scheme was introduced in 2010-11, it was stopped after NDA government came to the power at the Centre.
Lack of developmental work in backward areas gave boost to Left Wing Extremists who instigate the poor against the state, the officials apprised the Home Minister. Singh was also informed that Maoists do not support any developmental activities in backward areas so that they can mislead the people against the state.
This apart, sources said, Singh has also agreed to revive SIS (special infrastructure scheme) for the LWE hit districts of Odisha.
The Union Home Minister also agreed to include three new districts of the state under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme in liue of three other districts where maoist violence had been fully contained.
The districts which would be included under the SRE were Angul, Boudh and Sonepur as the state government agreed to delete Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Ganjam from the list, official sources said.
While lauding the LEW situation in the state, Singh said: “There has been progressive improvement in the maoist front in the state.”
“I have assured the State government that it will get maximum assistance for combating the maoist menance in Odisha. Referring to killing of four Maoists in Jharkhand on Thursday, the Home Minister said the security personnel never prefer to eliminate the maoists, but for the self defence.
Stating that the Centre is ready to hold talks with Maoists if they shun violence unconditionally, Singh said: “I want to appeal to them to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream … Government is ready to hold talks with them if they give up violence without any condition.”
Violence has no place in a healthy democracy, Singh, who was in day-long visit to Odisha, said adding Maoists should give up arms and come forward for talks.
Singh, who earlier on the day reviewed the security scenario at a two-hour meeting with officials in Koraput, said the NDA government has launched a host of welfare and development schemes and Maoists should give up arms and avail the benefits of these programmes.
Commending the role of Odisha government, the state police, administration and also the para-military forces in anti-Maoist operations, Singh congratulated officials too. “They are performing very well,” he said.
At the meeting in Koraput, Singh reviewed the anti-Maoist operations with top officials of the state police, BSF , CRPF and district administration of Koraput and Malkangiri.
