Raipur, January 12, 2013
Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh thinks that politics is the only way through which naxals can be linked to mainstream life. Ramesh, who was interacting with the media persons at New Circuit House during his sojourn at Raipur Saturday, said while the Central and state governments were open for talks with the Maoists, the latter did not believe in such methods of truce at all. Ramesh left for Orissa later at night via train route.
“The naxals do not trust Indian constitution. They are simply feigning on the name of tribal welfare. It is high time for the Centre and state governments to take strong step against them,” he said.
Pointing that the naxal problem had expanded to other parts of the country like Assam and Karnataka as well, Ramesh felt that proper implementation of PESA (Panchayat Extension of Scheduled Areas Act 1996) and Forest Rights Act 2006 would have eradicated naxal problem from the country.
Road works decelerate in six tribal districts
Ramesh informed that progress of road construction works under PMGSY in about six tribal districts of Chhattisgarh were much below his expectation.
“Among 82 naxal-hit districts in the country, the progress of PMGSY works in about 20-25 districts including six of Chhattisgarh is not satisfactory. With no roads, development will hamper in these areas,” he said.
“Despite the government calling tenders for road works in tribal areas repeatedly, the contractors decamp leaving the works due to threat calls from naxals. We need to create congenial atmosphere for the implementing agencies to carry out construction works without hindrance,” he said.
On provision of adequate security for the construction workers, he said the CRPF usually do the job. He indicated said tribal areas also lacked bridges (both small and big) and such structures should be constructed through separate agencies.
He felt that Centre should take responsibility of constructing bridges at border areas of the adjoining states. “In fact, such works are beyond capacity of state governments,” he said. Ramesh will tour Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur on January 23, 24 and 25.
No administration in tribal areas
Ramesh said administrative system had collapsed in tribal belts of Chhattisgarh. “The remote tribal areas lack basic infrastructures like medial and education. I was surprised when I saw Redcross (an international organisation) working more efficiently than local government health centres in Sukma and Bijapur. Similarly, teachers are reluctant to join schools due to Maoists’ threat,” he said.
Toilet more important than temple
Sticking to his earlier controversial remark that ‘toilet is more important than temple’, Ramesh said there were sufficient number of temples, churches, mosques and gurudwaras in the country, but toilets were only countable few.
It is direct benefit transfer, not cash transfer
On Centre’s direct cash transfer scheme, he said it was actually direct benefit transfer scheme and media rather misunderstood it.
“We are not going to transfer subsidised funds pertaining to PDS to the eligible beneficiaries through this scheme as has been widely surmised. Instead, we will transfer subsidised funds related to scholarship, MNREGA payments and pension,” he said.
“The transfer will not be done through banks or post offices, but rather a beneficiary will receive the amount directly in hand,” he explained.
He clarified that the Centre was not playing any politics over cash transfer scheme as a proportion of subsidised funds would be incurred by state governments too.
UPA committed to bring strong law against rape
Condemning Kanker rape incident and mocking Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar and Raipur parliamentarian Ramesh Bais for giving controversial remarks on the matter, Ramesh said the UPA government was committed to bring strong law against rape.
To prevent occurrence of rape incidents, he said more number of toilets should be constructed in the country, ample women must be inducted in police force and rapid decisions should be taken in courts pertaining to rape cases maintaining fairness.
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