Naxal supporters are now ‘vikas doot’ for the govt

Nagpur: The Area rakshak dal (ARD) and Gram rakshak dal (GRD) members, functioning as support base for Naxalites at villages, were anointed as ‘vikas doot’ or ambassadors of development by the government after attending the residential ‘melawa’ organized between July 28 and August 3 coinciding with Naxals’ ‘Shaheed Saptah‘. In all, 1,449 supporters from across the district attended the camps.
This was the first time that ARD and GRD members were invited to the camps instead of slapping them with preventive actions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be one of the biggest target of the Naxalites but it was his vision of Yoga and Swachh Bharat that were inculcated among the village-level supporters of the rebels during the ‘melawas’.
State police’s Anti-Naxal Operation (ANO) cell now claims to have transformed the Naxalite supporters to government’s development ambassadors which too is part of Modi’s vision.
Nine camps were organized by Gadchiroli police at each sub-division, following a strategy planned by ANO. Naxalite supporters from each village were invited to attend apart from other tribals.
Various government schemes, policies and plans were discussed at the camps and the supporters were enrolled in different projects and handed over their benefits. Various materials of daily use were also distributed among them apart from conducting health check-ups.
Awareness programmes on Panchayats (extension to scheduled areas) Act, 1996, or PESA Act, were also organized in the camps.
Naxalites had been trying to fuel anti-government sentiments by interpreting PESA Act from their point-of-view which ANO is trying to counter. Forest officials were also roped in to ensure they shared information on schemes and projects which can pave way to income generation for the Naxalite supporters and villagers.
Senior officers, including superintendent of police, Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh, too addressed the participants.
Inspector general of police, chief of state ANO, Shivaji Bodkhe, whose conceptualized the camps, said the ARD and GRD members were now with the government as they were exposed to progressive policies.
“Our aim was to cut off the logistics support of Naxalites during their Shaheed Saptah. We thought that if they were deprived of their support base in villages, it would be difficult for them to organize any programme during the week. Instead of sending supporters behind bars, we thought let us treat them with respect,” he said.
Bodkhe said the ARD or GRD members were asked to attend camps in groups so as to ensure no individual became Naxalite target. “These ‘vikas doots’ are now expected to tell the truth to the tribals regarding government’s intention. Naxalites mislead people which would be countered by their own ex-supporters,” said the IG