Jairam Ramesh for inclusion of 6 new districts among naxal-hit areas

Expresses concern over rising forcible land acquisition in tribal belts

Admits that rural development is a major challenge in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, January 03, 2012

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that six out of nine newly formed districts in the state could be included among naxal-infested regions. “Maoist activities have increased in these regions in the recent past. After getting the status of districts, these areas are now eligible to get provisions of naxal-hit districts,” said Ramesh while talking to media persons after his day-long tour to the state at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday.

He said he had assured Chief Minister Raman Singh to hold talks with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission of India regarding inclusion of the six districts among the naxal-hit districts.

Expressing concern over rising forcible land acquisition cases in tribal populated regions Ramesh said an Act on land acquisition would check such dealings and protect tribal lands. “The Centre framed a Land Acquisition Bill. At present it is before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for consideration. We are hoping to move it in the Parliament during Budget session in March 2012,” he said.

When asked whether he discussed about forcible land acquisition cases with the CM or not, Ramesh said, “The CM wants the Centre to draft a balanced bill on land acquisition so that it may neither cause problems to the land owners nor to the industrialists. This is in fact the opinion of all the CMs across the country. Some say the bill is not progressive. We will surely have to figure out some middle path which could be acceptable to Chhattisgarh and other states,” he said.

When reminded that during his last state visit he had assured his partymen to take action against guilty persons found engaged in scams and irregularities in MNREGA and PMGSY works, he said probe was being carried out through central teams and suitable action would be taken only after submission of probe reports.

He said constitutionally Centre cannot interfere into state affairs but could certainly ask it to maintain transparency in implementing schemes. “The fund provided for Central schemes does not belong to Union or state governments, but rather belongs to the public and hence it must be used in proper implementation of works,” he said.

When asked his take on rural development works in state, he said effective and transparent implementation of such works in Chhattisgarh was a major challenge. “Therefore, the Centre fulfills all the demands of the state regarding rural development without being partial,” he said.

When asked about his talks with the CM, he said he had an informal discussion with the latter without any agenda.

He informed that the CM handed him one proposal from Ramkrishna Mission active in reformatory works in Narayanpur. “During my last visit to Narayanpur, I had asked the mission to send a proposal to operate Aanganbadi and health centres along with ashram schools in the naxal-hit regions like Orchha,” he said.

Ramesh, who was in brief visit to the state to attend a seminar on land reform works, clarified that he could not visit Sarguja in December 2011 because of his hectic schedule. “Now, I will tour this region in the first week of February 2012,” he said adding that he would also attend inaugural function of the newly formed district Sukma on January 16.