A need for better understanding of Maoists by both the Central and State Governments was stressed by various speakers at a workshop on ‘Naxals Threat: Causes, State Responses and Consequences,' organised here on Friday.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Overview of Centre and State Responses to Naxal Threat,' P.V. Ramana, Research Fellow, Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi, said the Union Government took a serious view of the Maoist challenge in 1998 and created a Coordination Committee within the Ministry of Home Affairs.
After that not much was done. In 2003 the Union Government launched the Backward Districts Initiative programme under the Planning Commission, he said.
He cited lack of consensus among the States, divergent perceptions and priorities, political nexus and fluid coalitions among the problems and said naxilite-affected States had to improve their coordination.
Sharing their views on the topic ‘Impact on tribal communities of Orissa and Chattisgarh,' Sharanya Nayak and Malini Subramaniam, tribal researchers and social workers, said the tribal community was ignored by the State machinery and for them the State never existed.
The programme was organised by the Centre for Security Analysis.
