`Maoist menace can be fought with rural development`

Jairam Ramesh had a meeting with collectors of seven Naxal-hit districts of south Orissa.

villages, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the
Maoist menace can be fought with rural development.

"Rural development is the answer to fight naxalism. It
will improve the living standard of the people living in
villages," Ramesh told reporters during a visit to the
tribal-dominated and Maoist-hit Kandhamal district in Orissa.

Proper and successful implementation of welfare
schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, IAY would be able to build a new
relation between the government and tribal people, the cabinet
minister said.

Though a lot of work is being done through MGNREGA and
PMGSY, there still exists a gap between administration and
people, Ramesh said asking the administration to move closer
to the masses.

Impressed with abundant natural resources in Orissa,
particularly Kandhamal, he said poor communication facilities
poses a major obstacle in bringing speedy development in
backward areas.

Yesterday, Ramesh had a meeting with collectors of
seven Naxal-hit districts of south Orissa - Kandhamal, Ganjam,
Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nayagarh - at
Berhampur.

PTI

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