GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 1653
ANSWERED ON: 10.08.2011
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN NAAL AFFECTED AREAS
(a) whether the task force of Planning Commission has reported that the Development plans are slowest in the areas with considerable Naxal presence;
(b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether out of funds earmarked in these areas, only a certain percentage of funds for road
and health had been spent and rest remained unspent;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of the problems being faced by the Government in implementing developmental schemes in these areas;
(f) the steps being taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to deal with the situation to carry out the developmental activities in Naxal affected areas speedily; and
(g) the details of proposals to allocate more funds for Naxal affected tribal areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) & (b): The Planning Commission had set up an Expert Group on Development Issues to Deal with Causes of Discontent, Unrest and Extremism. The Expert Group submitted its Report, Development Challenges in Extremist Affected Areas in 2008. The Report inter alia observed that there is a lack of convergence of maor programmes and Planning Commission should keep the power of directly monitoring the effects of these programmes, so that unreached areas can be covered and the sense of alienation is alleviated.
(c) & (d): Since August, 200 Planning Commission has developed a Management Information System (MIS) to monitor the progress of implementation of the following maor schemes, namely, Supplementary Nutrition (ICDS), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SS88A), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yoana (PMGSY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Indira Awas Yoana (IAY), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Raiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yoana (RGGVY), Drinking Water Supply and Ashram Schools as well as the Forest Rights Act in the 60 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts covered under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP). The progress under these schemes and the IAP is being directly uploaded by the districts on the above said MIS http://pcserver.nic.in/iapmis. As far as PMGSY is concerned, the average expenditure reported for the 60 districts in 2010-11 is 62.1 while in the case of NRHM, expenditure reported is 65.66 in 2010-11.
(e) & (f): The topography of these areas and the problem of vacancies are some of the critical issues impeding development activities in these areas. Planning Commission has developed the MIS so that schemes can be closely monitored. The implementation of the Schemes including IAP is reviewed regularly by the Planning Commission through video conferences/ meetings with the Chief Secretaries/Development Commissioners of the States concerned and the District Collectors/District Magistrates of the 60 selected districts. Fifteen such video conferences/meetings have so far been held. These reviews also help to sort out problems in implementation so as to ensure visible impact at the ground level.
(g): In order to provide public infrastructure and services, the Integrated Action Plan was initiated on 25.11.2010 in 60 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts. An amount of Rs. 1500 crore was released in 2010-11 Rs. 25 crore per district. The allocation for 2011-12 is Rs. 1800 crore Rs. 30 crore out of which Rs. 10 crore per district has already been released in May, 2011.