Developmental plan for Naxal-hit districts prepared with army

New Delhi: The Centre today finalised a developmental action plan involving the Army to deal with the menace of Naxalism in districts worst hit by the problem, particularly in eastern India. The ‘Saranda Action Plan’, prepared by Rural Development Ministry, will be implemented firstly in Jharkhand’s Naxal-hit Saranda district after a meeting with state’s Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahato, CRPF Director General Vijayakumar and other top officials. [caption id=“attachment_109999” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The ‘Saranda Action Plan’, prepared by Rural Development Ministry, will be implemented firstly in Jharkhand’s Naxal-hit Saranda. PIB”] [/caption] “Tomorrow, a seven-member team from the ministry is going to Saranda. We had a discussion. We have prepared an action plan,” Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. According to the plan, immediate priority is to distribute solar lanterns and bicycles, construction of prefab houses for BPL families under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and bridges with the help of Army and special water supply — handpump schemes. On seeking Army’s help, Ramesh said,“we need very quick visible results on the ground. We are looking at prefab housing, prefab bridges rather than spend months and months in construction work. We will take the help of the Army also in this because they have expertise in the area.” Top Army officials made a presentation to the ministry on what it can do in these areas, the minister said. “We have already taken up development activities in Narayanpur and Vijaypur. We don’t want to take up on a large scale, because the Army should not be visible,” Ramesh said. He said Rs 4.5 crore will be needed for distribution of solar lanterns and bicycles and this will be met out of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) funds. Meanwhile, Ramesh has asked his private secretary Vineel Krishna to visit West Bengal’s Naxal-affected Jangalmahal district to study the developmental situation. PTI