The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, asked the Planning Commission to draw a holistic developmental plan for the Naxal-affected regions. Singh accepts the fact that the developmental plans were never a hit in the backward regions and that there should be some supplementary resources for these areas in order to encourage development.
The PM said, “Our development schemes have not worked well in these backward and impoverished parts of our country, especially in the areas inhabited by the adivasi population. We must make a concerted effort to bridge the development deficit in these backward areas and reduce whatever sense of alienation that may exist among the adivasis living in these areas.”
Singh further added, “Effective implementation of Forest Rights Act and Panchayati Raj (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act are critical. Failure to implement these laws in letter and spirit reduces the credibility of our commitment to bring development to these neglected regions.”
The Planning Commission will design the plan in co – ordination with the respective states and the stakeholders.
