Secure for growth

Allowing for a threshold of error as all compilations of figures must,the data from Indias 33 districts worst affected by Naxalite violence still convincingly spell out the bad news on the wall. These districts,spanning five states,are caught in a vicious cycle because of the high incidence of Naxalite violence and the pervasiveness of Naxal presence government projects for development and welfare are critically hindered and the lack of development,or persistence of underdevelopment,thereby further empowers Naxalite activity,since it becomes easier for Naxalites to move into these areas and enforce their formulaic indoctrination and violence. Therefore,as the affected states and the Centre coordinate the anti-Naxal operations,there are not just clear priorities but also advancing deadlines. Under the circumstances,an affected state cannot afford to be complacent or lazy in executing the operations and if theres a message for chief ministers like Shibu Soren in these Planning Commission figures,it is this.

Government expenditure on health,education,child care,electricity,roads,water,etc is invariably and alarmingly poor in 28 of the 33 LWE left wing extremism districts in Jharkhand,Chhattisgarh,Orissa and Bihar. In percentage terms in Jharkhand,for example,the expenditure for child care in the 10 worst affected districts is 15 while the states average is 86; for rural roads it is 48 and 127 respectively,and for education 17 and 77. The seven districts in focus in Chhattisgarh spend 15 per cent on water while the state spends 83 on average; for rural roads its 46 per cent versus 115 per cent. Individual districts make the picture darker: Malkangiri in Orissa has a literacy rate below 25 per cent but it spends under 4 per cent of funds under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan; Bihars Aurangabad utilises less than 10 per cent of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana funds while the state notches up 110 per cent.

Financial expenditure data may not be enough,but its a sound enough means of gauging progress. The Centre and states indisputable goal is the speedy success of the anti-Naxal operations. The two-pronged strategy of combating Naxalites while engendering development will not work if either fails or takes too long. By establishing security,the vicious cycle of bad indicators can be broken by providing development. When that happens,there will be less ground for any local sense of alienation and still less for budding Naxalism. The cycle of life thus begun will in turn ensure effective delivery of governance and further development.