Centre stresses land reforms to battle reds

KOLKATA: In a recent missive, the Centre has proposed a volley of measures to curb the rising Maoist menace in the state.

Apart from stressing on poverty alleviation, it has asked the Bengal government to carefully handle issues related to land acquisition and use of forests and mines as the Red rebels often play on such topics to fan the sentiments of villagers.

The Centre suggested the need for effective implementation of forest act along with the panchayat schemes to nip the problems at the grass-root level. "There should be renewed impetus to land reforms like redistribution of surplus land, vesting title in tenants and carrying forward consolidation of land holdings for maintaining and promoting sustainability of agriculture," it said.

Moreover, the Centre wants an improved banking system for farmers in the rural areas and investment in non-farm activitieswhich would boost the agrarian sector

. The missive said that the state should provide necessary support to small and marginal farmers so that they do not fall into the Maoists' trap. "Setting up of self-help groups must be encouraged and there should be proper rehabilitation of displaced farmers," it stated.

Even while setting up SEZs, extreme caution should be taken, the report stated, adding that prime agriculture land should be avoided for establishing SEZs. The Centre said that the entrepreneurs do have a social responsibility and should accordingly decide on the land for building up SEZs.

The report said that the police and the paramilitary force posted in Maoist terrains should be sensitized on the root causes of disturbance. This apart, the Centre wants the state to enhance the capacity of the police force and set up a special task force on the lines of the Greyhound force in Andhra Pradesh.

Also, locals, particularly the tribals, should be adequately recruited in the police force to combat the Maoists. The atrocities against the tribals and SCs should be probed properly, as often such acts of violence prompt the SCs/STs to join the Maoist camp. Moreover, it has asked the state to demarcate the backward areas in the various blocks, based on the economic status, so that the Backward Regions Grant Fund can be channelized to these pockets.

A senior government official said : "Already Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made a drive for recruitment of over 10,000 youths from Jangalmahal in the forceand more recruitments from the area are likely. Last year the Bengal government recruited junior constables, home guards and national volunteer force members and for that state government made it mandatory for the candidates to be from Jangalmahal."

It also feels that the state should keep tabs on extortion rackets by Maoists. This apart, tribals must be made aware about government policies, so that they can be the beneficiaries, the report said, adding that there should be complete overhaul and systematic re-organisation of land holdings.

Centre has advised the state to give thrust to poverty alleviation programmes and go for recruiting more locals from the Maoist belt in the police force to combat Maoists. The recent missive suggested a number of ways to tackle Maoist menace in the state and wanted to properly handle issues related to land acquisition and use of forests and mines, as red rebels are targeting to fan up sentiments of the aggrieved villagers.

Centre suggested the state to tackle the problem at the grass root level and for that there is need for effective implementation of forest act along with the panchayat schemes. Centre has specially asked to improve the condition of the agrarian sector. "There should be renewed impetus to land reforms like redistribution of surplus land, vesting title in tenants and carrying forward consolidation of land holdings for maintaining and promoting the sustainability of agriculture." Moreover, Centre wanted improved banking system for the farmers in the rural areas and wanted thrust in the poverty alleviation programmes along with investment in non-farm activities.

The missive said that the state should provide necessary support to small and marginal farmers, so that they do not fall into the trap of the Maoists. So, there is recommendation for creating alternative livelihood opportunities in rural areas for the poor farmers. Even setting up of self help groups should be encouraged and there should proper rehabilitation of the displaced farmers, the report stated.

Even while setting up SEZs, extreme caution should be taken, the report stated and prime agriculture land should be avoided while setting SEZs. Displaced farmers should be properly rehabilitated, the report said. The entrepreneurs setting up SEZ will have to take social responsibility, Centre wants.

The report said that the police and the paramilitary force posted in the Maoist zone should be specially sensitized about the root causes of disturbance. Moreover the Centre has wanted the state to enhance the capacity of the police force and set up special task force in lines with the Greyhound force of Andhra Pradesh. The Centre wants that locals particularly the tribals should be adequately recruited in the police force to combat the Maoists. Again the atrocities against the tribals and SCs should be probed properly, as often the atrocities prompt the SC/STs to join the Maoist camp. Moreover, it wanted that the state should declare backward areas in the blocks depending on the economic backwardness so Backward regions grant fund can be channelized to these areas.

The Centre wanted that the state should keep tab on the extortion rackets by the Maoists or those close to them as there are regular complaints still that the contractors and transporters are being fleeced by the Maoists. Recently in Bandowan Maoists attacked a brick klin owned by Pradip Agarwal and as Agarwal refused to pay the rebels they torched trucks and blew off the chimney of the klin.

A senior government official said : "Already Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made a drive for recruitment of over 10,000 youths from Jangalmahal in the force and so more recruitment from Jangalmahal is likely. Last year the Bengal government recruited junior constables, home guards and national volunteer force members and for that state government made it mandatory for the candidates to be from Jangalmahal. Now the home ministry wants a similar line to be followed." So the official said that more tribal youths are likely to be recruited in the police force.

The tribal villagers should be made aware about the various government policies, so that they can be the beneficiaries, the report said and added that there should be complete overhaul and systematic re-organisation of land holdings.
Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Centre-stresses-land-reforms-to-battle-reds/articleshow/17366902.cms