Hyderabad, October 21: The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Thursday asserted that the maintenance of law and order was indispensable for taking the development forward and commended the police personnel for successfully facing the challenges from communal and anti-social elements.
Speaking at the Police Commemoration Parade at Goshamahal Stadium here, the Chief Minister pointed out that while the Army shields the country from external forces, the police personnel safeguard the society from internal perils.
Maintaining that the Naxalite problem would have to be looked in the socio-economic angle, Mr Rosaiah said that his government was providing job opportunities to the tribal youth from the remote areas in a bid to wean them away from the extremist influence.
Pointing out that Khammam was the only district in the State included in the Central scheme for providing various infrastructural and basic amenities for the overall development of Naxal- affected areas, Mr Rosaiah said that he had taken up the issue with the Union Home Minister to include other border areas of the State in the list. There was a positive response from the Centre to his suggestion, he added.
The Chief Minister observed that by providing scholarships to the students and implementing welfare schemes for the SCs, STs, BCs and religious minorities, they could be pulled back from being attracted towards extremism.
He also pointed out that though the aim of the inter-border terrorism was to stir up communal passions, the people of all religions remained united.
Stating that many police personnel were losing their lives while discharging duties, the Director General of Police, Mr K. Arvind Rao, said that no casualties due to the Naxal as well as communal violence were reported in the recent past in the State. Pointing out that some 400 personnel from the constable to ASI cadre (between 40 and 45 years) in the department were losing lives due to ill-health, the DGP suggested bi-annual health check up for them. He said that budget allocation for the police department was an area of concern and the pathetic condition prevailing in the Police Headquarters amply reflected this.
DGP SEEKS MORE FUNDS TO DEPT.
Regretting that the State government had failed to respond positively for increased allocation for the department, he urged the government to earmark about Rs 20,000 crores towards development and revamping the police force in the entire State. The Home Minister, Ms P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, said that though the culture of “bombs and bullets” was on the rise, the police were able to successfully withstand the menace. Referring to the request of the DGP, the minister said that the State government would consider his suggestions positively. (NSS)