Saranda Development Plan (SDP) focuses on security-oriented development approach in Maoist-affected areas on a large-scale. Saranda in West Singhbhum was once the so-called eastern regional headquarters of the CPI(Maoist),
The Jharkhand Government has decided to replicate this model of development in 10 other Naxalite strongholds.
Chief secretary Rajiv Gauba, who recently visited Saranda in West Singhbhum along with DGP and other senior state officials, held meetings with top CRPF officers to replicate the SDP in specifically chosen vulnerable areas.
He also met the villagers, PRI functionaries and other officials and observed the progress of the SDP.
Gauba emphasized that SDP was important for giving impetus to development efforts of this remote region.
The momentum of work needs to be stepped up, all pending works completed and left out areas of development and welfare measures identified and taken up for implementation on a mission mode, added the Chief Secretary.
Gauba said respective divisional commissioners, acting as project nodal officers, would draw up elaborate security and development plans and all vacant posts in Saranda region would be filled up by the departments concerned.
He said activities would be quantified so that they could be easily monitored.
The CRPF, with 22 battalions in Jharkhand including special strike force CoBRA, and state police have already shown Gauba their presentations on the matter.
It may be recalled that SDP, a brainchild of former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh of the UPA government, gave equal weight to security and development in rebel and “cleansed” areas. This idea of development needs better implementation. Private mining interests are the only allegation behind the SDP .
