The new BJP government in Jharkhand has now made it clear that development alone can eliminate Naxalism and that security personnel will be involved in carrying out such work in the Naxal-affected areas.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das is aiming to address the lack of development in the rural parts of the state due to the presence of Red ultras by involving security personnel in infrastructure creation.
Reportedly the progress under Additional Central Assistance (ACA) yojana was unsatisfactory during 2013/14, according to letters issued to the deputy commissioners of some districts in August 2014 by a senior official in the erstwhile Hemant Soren government with the directive that there should not be a “repeat” of the performance.
Move to involve security personnel in development work is being appreciated as Naxalites don’t want construction of roads and bridges as it would enable the administration reach remote areas. Moreover, the Naxalites also demand extortion money on such schemes which affects the quality of work.
However, the opposition claims that the state government was “over-simplifying the complex problem of Naxalism” by its decision to involve security personnel in developmental work.
