Kolkata, Nov.26 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a special rehabilitation package for locals in Maoist-affected areas of the state, promising them amenities like food and employment.
She was speaking on the sidelines of an event on Friday, to canvass for a candidate of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Subrata Bakshi, contesting the ensuing by-polls.
Banerjee assured locals that land in Singur would be put to use for the betterment of the locals.
"Under TMC's (Trinamool Congress party) regime, the volatile Gorkhaland and Singur land issues were solved and settled. The Singur land is now being taken care of and it would be put into use for the betterment of the people," said Banerjee.
The disputed land of Singur had been allotted to Tata Motors by the erstwhile state government ruled by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front for building a motor car plant in the Singur area.
Tata Motors had planned to build a plant at Singur in the eastern state, where it wanted to make Nano - the world's cheapest car. However, following large-scale violent protests from local farmers against the plant, Tata Motors scrapped this project in 2008 and later moved it to the western state of Gujarat.
Earlier this year, the West Bengal government had enacted the 'Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011,' to return the acquired land to the original landowners.
Tata Motors opposed this act and had moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the constitutional merits of the act as well as the land rehabilitation and development rules framed under the act.
Meanwhile, speaking about the promise of providing special packages to locals residing in the Maoist-centric Jungal Mahal in the state, she asserted that the provincial government has done as much as they could to upgrade the affected lot.
Banerjee added that the package would include funds for construction of all-weather roads, electrification, distribution of Below Poverty Line and pension cards and bicycles, creation of facilities for safe drinking water and establishment of residential schools.
"Till the time we took over the government, people of Jungal Mahal had nothing to eat. They were literally starving and thus were influenced by the ultras. Today, they are assured of their livelihood and also of their two square meals. And the ultras, who misguided the youth are on the run. We have assured those who had taken to the armed rebellion have been promised suitable jobs in the police, the Home Guards. Our challenge has been to lend a dignified life for the Adivasis living in these areas and they can be rest assured of this since we are determined," said Banerjee.
Despite strong measures initiated by the government to crush the ultras, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.
The prime victims of these atrocities and the fear spread by Maoists since decades as part of a violent, ideology-driven struggle for 'rights and development of the marginalised' are the commoners - the innocent villagers and tribals living in rural interiors.
The tussle for power by the Maoists has led to a virtual breakdown of state-machinery in the villages of insurgency-hit regions, with many locals reeling under abject poverty and violence.
Recently, Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram had termed left-wing extremism as 'a bigger challenge than terrorism'.
He recently promised that the government would help state governments with funds, technology and security forces so that they are able to effectively fight against the Maoists. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
