Naveen for inclusion of four more districts under SRE scheme

The Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded for inclusion of four more districts under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme in addition to the 15 districts that are currently covered under the scheme.

He has also sought early approval of the Revised Action Plan of Rs 167.95 crore under the SRE scheme for 2010-11.

The demand was made by Patnaik at the meeting of the state Chief Ministers on internal security in New Delhi called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Patnaik suggested that the scheme for modernization of police force should be spread over a period of 10 years to facilitate better planning and MPF allocation for Orissa during 2011-12 should be doubled.

Besides, he emphasized that two dedicated helicopters, one each in Bhubaneswar and Koraput should be placed as force multipliers.

Further, he sought assistance for 200 additional Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and 25 additional Eklavya model residential schools apart from a provision of Rs 237 crore for five LWE (Left Wing Extremism) districts identified earlier for expanding the road network.

During his address, Patnaik highlighted that in furtherance of the multi-pronged strategy, Orissa is diligently pursuing accelerated development of the under developed and tribal areas.

"Steps taken by the state government include introduction of a liberal rehabilitation and resettlement policy persons displaced as a consequence of a number of new industrial projects and aggressive implementation of Forest Rights Act. Further, a lot of attention has been given to upgrading infrastructure in LWE affected areas including construction of hostels for tribal girls, recruitment of school teachers and medical doctors and skill development as well as capacity building of tribal youth”, he said.