Sukma kept out of BRGF, Ramesh says will speak to Plan panel

He was speaking to reporters after the government decided to bring 22 more districts under the ambit of Rs 5,350 crore worth Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and expanded the coverage of Integrated Action Plan (IAP) from 78 districts to 82 districts. IAP has a total allocation of Rs 2,460 crore.

Sukma was in news recently after its Collector Alex Paul Menon was was kidnapped by Naxals on April 21. He was later released after intense negotiations.

"Naxal situation in Sukma is worst than any other districts in the country. Worst-hit districts like Sukma should be urgently brought under the IAP or the BRGF category," Ramesh told reporters reacting to a query on why the newly carved out district was not included under central programme while relatively peaceful districts like Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh were included.

The Minister said he had written to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman to include Sukma district in the IAP category and he would "certainly pressurise" the panel to include the Maoist affected newly carved out districts in the IAP or BRGF category.

"If you ask me, which is the worst Naxal affected district, I will put Sukma on top. I hope that the Planning Commission would give utmost priority in including the districts like Sukma in the IAP category," Ramesh said about the district created by Chattisgarh Government this year.

He said the Government would review all programmes being carried out under IAP and BRGF districts next year.