The Maharashtra government is mulling a proposal to offer incentives to Gram Panchayats in Naxal-affected regions of Gadchiroli district, where the recent local bodies' elections were held smoothly, an official said on Saturday.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday visited Gadchiroli, during which he held a meeting with district officials. Deshmukh told Collector Deepak Singla to send a proposal for a financial incentive for such gram panchayats. During his visit to the district earlier this week, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had asked Collector Deepak Singla to send a proposal to provide financial incentives program Panchayats. Gadchiroli district recorded more than 70 percent polling in the recently-held Gram Panchayat polls in the state.

Speaking to media folks, Singla said villages, where elections were conducted smoothly for the first time, will be recommended for financial incentives from the rural development department.

Deshmukh had said that the incentive could vary between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh depending on the population of the gram panchayat. He said that there could be around 100 such gram panchayats in Naxal-affected parts out of the total 340 that went to the polls early this month.

There are 340 Gram Panchayats in Gadchiroli, of which100 are located in the interior areas, he said. ''We are yet to send a proposal and finalize which villages can be given the financial incentive of anywhere between 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. We will send the proposal by next week,'' the official said.

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