Unofficial development is fine

The standard official line is that while the government wants to carry out development work in Naxal-affected districts, the Naxalites don’t allow this. A senior official of a prominent religious charity that works in the Naxal-affected West Medinipur district in West Bengal has added a twist to this. According to the official, their projects in the district have not been adversely impacted. “We haven’t had any problems working in Lalgarh. Everybody there knows our organisation. In fact, the PCPA (or People’s Committee against Police Atrocities) keeps asking us to come and conduct our programmes,” the official said. The PCPA is understood to be a front for the red rebels. So, while the government continues to flounder, are the non-governmental organisations making new friends?