Government to connect Naxal hit villages through roads

New Delhi, February 7, 2013: All habitations with a population of 100 tribals and above in 82 Naxal-hit districts will now be connected with all-weather roads under government's flagship programme PMGSY, with the Union Cabinet on Thursday giving nod to a proposal.

At present, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 250 persons and above in tribal areas in Naxal-affected districts.

The Rural Development Ministry's proposal came after Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo pointed out that bulk of the habitations in tribal areas are below the 250-mark.

"Right now all habitations over 250 population have been taken up. But in most tribal areas, the density of population is very, very low. Large number of habitations but smaller number of population," Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had said.

Government is giving utmost priority to provide road connectivity to tribal districts in the country as most of these areas are affected by Naxal violence.