Government today reviewed the development projects being undertaken in 33 Naxal-affected districts with the participation of chief secretaries of seven extremism-hit states through video conferencing.
The meeting held in New Delhi, chaired by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, took stock of the progress made in implementation of Forest Rights Act which will benefit ST and and other traditional forest dwellers, NREGA, National Rural Health Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The meeting comes close on the heels of killing of 76 security personnel by the Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
The 11th meeting of the task force also reviewed the action taken for implementation of various schemes under Integrated Child Development Services, Drinking Water Supply, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Targeted Public Distribution System besides others, sources said.
Of the 33 districts, 10 are in Jharkhand, seven in Chhattisgarh, six in Bihar, five in Orissa, two in Maharashtra, one each in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
All these districts are underdeveloped and authorities believe that economic backwardness drive many local people of these regions to join the Maoist ranks.
Besides, the top officials also took stock of progress made in implementation of the proposed Rs7,300 crore road connectivity projects in the Naxal-affected states.
Under this projects, 2,898km rural roads will be constructed through 107 proposals.
Sources said so far, Rs3,861 crore has been sanctioned by the Central government of which tender for Rs3,032 crore has been floated.
Works worth Rs164 crore has been allotted so far which will increase to Rs321 crore by the end of this month and Rs1,700 crore by the end of May.
