Hyderabad, October 22: Stating that Naxalism was a socio-economic problem rather than a law and order problem, Chief Minister K Rosaiah said on Thursday that the government was trying to prevail upon the Centre to extend its schemes meant for the benefit of Naxalism affected areas to all the districts which fall on the borders with the neighbouring states.
Currently, the Centre’s Special Development Fund scheme is confined to Khammam district.
“We requested Union home minister P Chidambaram to extend the scheme to all the districts right from Adilabad to Srikakulam which have borders with neighbouring states,” Rosaiah said while speaking at the Police Commemoration Day celebrations organised at the Police Martyr’s Memorial at the Goshamahal Stadium here on Thursday.
Rosaiah said the government introduced several programmes like Remote and Interior Areas Development (RIAD) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to ensure that tribals got employment opportunities.
Similarly, poor and backward classes were given scholarships and fee reimbursements to wean their youth away from Maoists, he said.
Stating that terrorism was another challenge before the police, Rosaiah said minorities were given reservation in education to ensure that they did not get attracted to such elements. ”We are taking up minority welfare schemes and modernisation of madrasas to see that youth do not take the wrong path,” he said.
The Chief Minister paid rich tributes to the 797 policemen across the country, five of them from the state, who laid their lives while on duty in the past one year.
Directorgeneral of police K Aravinda Rao reminded the chief minister that the government failed to fulfil two promises it had made at the same venue last year. ”Nearly 400 policemen, from constable to assistant subinspector rank, died from ill health. Policemen were falling ill by the time they attained the age of 4045 years and as per the police manual, policemen should have biennial health checkup but due to lack of funds we could not do it. The police quarters across the state are in a bad shape and need immediate repairs. I request the government to look into these two problems,” he said.
Rosaiah promised to look into the problems.
Several senior and retired police officers paid rich tributes to the police martyrs. Home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy also participated.
–Agencies