Equating Maoist violence with terrorism,Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday said several states in the country were reeling under a major tragedy of terrorism in the form of Naxalism" saying that his government has been taking steps contain violence and restore peace in the state. One of the latest steps in this direction is the creation of a new police district at Gariaband a tribal area,bordering neighbouring Orissa,which falls in the state capitals Raipur districthe said while addressing a gathering here at the police grounds after taking salute of an in impressive Independence Day Parade. Without naming any campaign or the Salwa JudumBastars peoples movement against NaxalitesSingh said I salute the brothers,sisters and children of Naxalite affected districts whose courage has helped the state government to start multi-dimensional efforts to contain Naxalism. The peoples unity against anti-national forces like Naxalites- who oppose the Indian constitution and development and also believe in bloodshedclearly showed our internal strength,he added. Referring to the initiatives taken by his government to provide relief to the families of victims of Naxalite violence,the Chief Minister said the state has modified its policy so as to absorb one person from the family of each police personnel killed in Maoist violence even of his or her family member was already in a government job. Besides,the state government has also enhanced ex-gratia amount for martyred police personnel to Rs 15 lakh from Rs five lakh. Listing the welfare measures being launched by his government,Singh said the state has drawn up a Rs 432 crore plan to fight the problem of malnutrition among women and children. More than 8000 new anganwadi kendras would be opened this year while more than 36,000 anganwadi kendras were already existing in the state. The show by sniffer dogs,who displayed their ability to detect landmines buried in the ground,was an attraction at the 90 minute Independence Day function in the state capital.
