Sunabeda Development Plan for Odisha to check Maoist violence
Thursday January 17, 2013

After his Odisha visit, particularly to the backward districts of Kalahandi and Nuapada districts, Rural Development Minister of India, Jairam Ramesh, has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, expressing his support and assurance of all cooperation for a special development plan for the Sunabeda forest area in Nuapada district. The special plan is to be in line with the Saranda development plan implemented in Jharkhand.

The special plan is proposed by the Union Minister in view of sharp increase in Maoist violence in Nuapada and the particular area during the last few years. “The Sunabeda forest area has become the hub of Maoist activity and the attacks on the neighbouring districts like Kalahandi and Bolangir are being executed from Sunabeda area,” says the letter from the Minister.

Mentioning that left wing extremism or Maoist activities are growing in the hilly region bordering the Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, the Union Rural Development Minister has expressed his concern saying that “The Dongria kandhas are particularly vulnerable in this area and are being targeted by Maoists, taking advantage of their grievances related to under development.”

Suggesting that urgent developmental interventions can tackle the spread of Maoist influence in this area, Union Minister Ramesh proposed in his letter that “we sanction houses to all eligible families of the Dongria Kandha community in Kalahandi/Rayagada districts under Indira Awash Yojana (IAY). Also a procurement centre for NTFP under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) can be opened in Lanjigarh at the earliest. These interventions can be delivered easily over the next couple of months to earn the confidence of the Dongria Kandha Community. In the long term, the inaccessibility of the area has to be addressed through proposals under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).”

During his visit on January 13, 2013, Jairam Ramesh declared a package of about Rupees 200 Cr. for allotment of houses to approximately 2100 families of particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) under Indira Awash Yojana (IAY). “Under the scheme, each family is to be paid with 75000 rupees to construct a house,” the Minister informed the media during his visit to Kalahandi.

The Minister, while assuring expeditious consideration and clearance, has requested Odisha CM to direct the authorities concerned to prepare proposals as mentioned above under IAY, NRLM and PMGSY and have them submitted to the Union Ministry of Rural Development.”

Requesting the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to direct the concerned officials to focus on this Sunabeda plan preparation, Jairam Ramesh has announced the date of his next visit to Sunabeda in Nuapada district as February 15, 2013.