Chattisgarh seeks central assistance for development in Maoist hit areas

Raipur, Sep 2 (ANI): The Chhattisgarh Government on Wednesday placed a demand for grant of Rs 94.22 crore from the Central Government to develop educational facilities in the Maoist- affected areas.

According to State Government sources, Chief Minister Raman Singh himself put the demand before Union Tribal Affairs Minister Kantilal Bhuria when the duo met here.

According to sources, Singh also submitted the details of assistance anticipated by the State Government to Bhuria.

Singh informed Bhuria that Chattisgarh needed central's assistance mainly for construction of some 218 ashram schools, sources said.

State Government is also looking for the assistance to the programmes of job-oriented training to the unemployed tribal youths and constructing houses for the tribals," sources added.

The State Tribal Welfare Department-run ashram schools are basically residential schools where all the needs of the students will be looked after by the state government.

Unfortunately many of the Ashram Schools became the victims of Maoist attacks, especially in the Bastar region where the red ultras are in dominating position.

The red rebels demolished dozens of such school buildings in the interiors of Bastar region, which is spread out over 40,000 sq km.

The Maoist claims that they blow up the school complexes because they provided shelter to the forces involved in anti-naxal operations, sources said. (ANI)