New Delhi, Aug. 7: The Planning Commission has finalised a Rs 13,742-crore Integrated Action Plan that is expected to act as a catalyst for development in 60 Maoist-affected districts spread across Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
The scheme will also be initially implemented in one district each in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.The IAP, put together in co-ordination with the Union ministries of home, environment and forests and Panchayati Raj, aims at providing infrastructure and facilities like drinking water, electricity, roads, sanitation and health services.
The Center has given state governments a period of three years to implement the IAP.
To ensure that the money actually reaches the grassroot level, the Centre has determined that the implementation arm of the IAP will be the Panchayats Extension (to Schedule Areas) Act of 1996 (PESA).
“Initially, the plan will be implemented in 35 left-wing extremist-affected districts which will be given Rs 45-50 crore for setting up primary health care, educational and sanitation facilities,” the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram said.
The Planning Commission vice-chairman, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, also pointed out that the thrust of the development package would not just be on strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions but also ensuring the successful implementation of key flagship programmes including the NREG Scheme and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.