Government to initiate scheme to tackle growing Naxalite menace

Hyderabad, June 6(ANI): The Union Government will soon initiate a new proposal, 'Modernisation of Forest Administration', in order to develop the forest administration and simultaneously tackle the growing Naxalite menace.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said the Centrally-sponsored scheme would be launched in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa which are facing the Maoist problem.

"We are working on the details of this scheme and the centre will extend full financial assistance to the state governments in implementing it. Andhra Pradesh has not been included in the scheme as it has been relatively successful in tackling the Maoist menace," Jairam Ramesh said.

Ramesh added that as many as 186 tribal-dominated districts in the country were affected by the Maoist trouble.

There is a close connection between forest areas and Maoists. These 186 districts comprise 30 percent of India's land area and 60 percent of the country's forest area, the Union Minister noted.

In order to have a more sensitive approach to the forest management and to efficiently deal with the Maoists threat, the Modernisation of Forest Administration scheme was mooted. (ANI)