With govt failure to implement schemes youths attracted to Naxalism

TNN

Mangalore, 13 March 2012: The state government had announced a slew of measures like allotting funds for the development and rehabilitation of tribals and providing economic activity for villagers in the Naxal-affected areas in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts to tackle the menace in 2005. However, these measures intended to help people came in fits and starts making villagers get attracted towards Naxalism or sympathize with Naxalites.

 

"Instead of spending Rs 25 crore on Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) year after year, the sum should be utilized to rehabilitate the people living inside the Kudremukh National Park (KNP) once and for all. About 450 families are willing to come outside the park for the past 10 years, but for the state government the issue is not a priority,’’ said a source who did not want to be named.

 

In 2005, the state government released Rs 23 crore to rehabilitate 201 families living inside KNP and Rs 1 crore each for Naxal-prone districts of Udupi, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada to take up developmental work. Eight years later, the only progress that the area witnessed is the increase in the number of families inside KNP.

 

"The youngsters hoping of a package abandoned cultivation and in the absence of any productive economic activity it is but natural for them to gravitate towards Naxalism when officials threaten them day in and day out of eviction,’’ added the source.

 

 

Another major social problem in the Naxal-affected area is that parents of girls are not ready to marry them off to men hailing from that area. "In such a situation, what the youth should do? This is being exploited by Naxals,’’ said the source.

 

The Rs 15-18-crore package per district announced during former CM Dharam Singh’s tenure achieved good progress in terms of construction of roads, drains and anganwadis in Naxal-hit areas from 2007-09. After 2009, there was no specific package announced for these areas. Instead the funds were intended to be released under tribal area development schemes.

 

Both Udupi and DK district administrations have sent Rs 20-25 crore development proposals for Naxal- affected areas three months ago and no funds have been granted so far.

 

A conservationist said that the rehabilitation package of 2005 still holds good and should be implemented. "What use are the roads and other developmental works that does not even last a monsoon. Officials do not want a permanent solution as not even half of these benefits reach the intended beneficiaries,’’ the conservationist adds.

 

Also, Dharam Singh’s Naxal surrender and rehabilitation package of 2005, which included cash incentives, did not evoke much response with only three Naxalites in Chikmagalur accepting it. Under this, the surrendering person will become eligible for vocational training with a stipend of Rs 2,000 per month for one year, grant-cum-loan of up to Rs 2 lakh and rewards for surrendering weapons, explosives and communication equipment ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 25,000.