New policy to tackle Naxals awaits Cabinet approval 2 months after being drafted
The Union Home Ministry's much talked about policy on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is caught in red tape as it awaits a Cabinet approval even two months after it was drafted.
The new policy, a top agenda for Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has not been fully rolled out in the absence of a Cabinet sanction. The delay comes at a time when the focus is back on the policy for effectively combating "Red terror" in the aftermath of the recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.
Sources said the policy cannot be implemented effectively until it gets a go-ahead by the Union Cabinet. Other than the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the policy needs participation from the ministries of Finance, Tribal Affairs, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport and Highways, and Environment and Forests.
The draft policy also focuses on development-related issues, rights and entitlement of tribal population and a campaign to address perception related aspects.
"Since several ministries are involved, a Cabinet approval is necessary. It should have been done without any delay but bureaucratic delays have created a logjam," a home ministry official said, raising questions on the effectiveness of the policy because of procedural delays.
The Union home ministry is now pushing for implementation of some of the features in the new policy with the help from LWE-affected states.
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Anil Goswami held a meeting with the police chiefs and chief secretaries of these states along with CRPF officers to discuss the policy and how some of its features can be put into practice.
With regard to the securityrelated measures, it has been decided that the MHA will prepare a comprehensive note for the Cabinet Committee on Security for changes in the security-related expenditure scheme to be make it more "vibrant and dynamic."
The new policy also states that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will submit a re-organisation and restructuring plan to the Home Ministry. Other than security, the new policy focuses on development in Maoist-hit areas.
"The focus will be on expansion of existing school and medical infrastructure, banking services, telephone connectivity, road connectivity and skill building infrastructure," a note on the policy states.
According to the policy, road connectivity in Maoist-hit areas is crucial for not just mobility of security forces but also for creating opportunities of economic growth and empowerment of the people.
It also stresses on the need for improving communication in these areas.
The note on the policy also talks of Maoist efforts to expand the movement to the Southern theatre in the trijunction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
"The situation in Kerala has the potential of becoming more serious, if immediate preventive measures are not taken," the policy warns.
