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Journalism of Courage
Putting an end to weeks of speculation,the government has decided not to use the Army in the fight against Naxalites. Instead,the plan now is to rope in ex-servicemen on contract basis and use them for specific jobs,like de-mining,in security operations being conducted in Naxal-hit areas.
The call on not involving the Army in anti-Naxal operations was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which met on Thursday. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
said that the government was more keen to utilise the experience of ex-servicemen,since they are no longer an active part of the Army,against the Naxals.
To begin with,the government plans to hire ex-servicemen on contract basis for three years for specific roles. Former Sappers,for instance,could be roped in for de-mining works,sources said.
The next meeting of the CCS,sources said,will take up matters relating to equipping state police forces and Central paramilitary forces with all they require to fight the Naxals.
Sources said the Centre was planning to invite chief ministers of affected states to one of the forthcoming CCS meetings in a bid to devise a cohesive strategy against Naxals.
Acknowledging the limitations of the Army and the IAF in terms of the number of helicopters they have,the CCS,sources said,has also agreed that forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations will have to look at other sources to procure helicopters. One of the options could be hiring choppers from government-operators like Pawan Hans,sources said.
The CCS has also reiterated the need for bringing development to the most backward of areas that have become Naxal strongholds in recent months. The government is of the view that funds should not be a constraint when it comes to ensure that development reaches these areas. The government also plans to engage Planning Commission more actively in devising developmental plans for Naxal-affected areas.
