BHUBANESWAR: An official said here on Friday that the Odisha government has released an annual work plan (AWP) of Rs 85.85 crore to continue anti-Maoist operations this fiscal year.
The state-level committee led by Chief Secretary S C Mahapatra has endorsed the annual plan.
Compared to the expenditure of Rs. 50.56 crore for 2021–2022 by the state government, the outlay for 2022–2023 has increased by more than 50%. According to the official, the federal and state governments would split the cash for AWP 2022–23 60:40 each.
Purchase of contemporary ammunition, proper logistic support for the armed forces, training for the state police force, community policing, extra fortification of the police posts, and rehabilitation of LWE cadres are the key operations covered under AWP-2022-23.
Besides, ex-gratia grants and property damage grants will be provided to the impacted civilians and security personnel in accordance with the established rules. The amount of ex-gratia grant for the civilians and security personnel on duty has increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, respectively, due to a rise in budgetary provisions.
The police have been requested by the chief secretary to give the armed forces participating in anti-Maoist operations sufficient logistical support. He also requested that community mobilisation and confidence-building efforts be stepped up in the areas thought to be afflicted by the left wing.
Mahapatra gave the police department instructions to maintain contact with the populace and the community, learn about their worries, and boost their sense of confidence. He also urged for better community child education programmes and alternative livelihood initiatives.
The confidence and involvement of the populace will be very helpful in locating LWE activity in the predicted hot spots, he said.
According to the official, the left wing extremism (LWE) activities were fully under control in the state, particularly in the Swabhiman Anchal (formerly known as the cut-off area) in the Malkangiri district, which was once thought to be an epicentre of extremists.
Officials claimed that well-thought-out intelligence-based countermeasures were being implemented as and where their hideous hands protruded.
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