Wave of development has reduced Naxal menace to less than 20 districts: PM
Bhubaneswar, June 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that Naxalism will soon be completely eradicated from the country, crediting his government's developmental push in tribal areas for the decline in extremist violence.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the BJP government's first anniversary in Odisha, the Prime Minister said that before 2014, more than 125 tribal-majority districts across India were impacted by Naxalite violence.
He pointed out that these tribal regions were long unfairly labeled as part of the 'Red Corridor' and had been neglected by previous governments, which declared them backward and left them behind.
'In the last few years, our government has worked to bring tribal communities out of a climate of violence and onto a path of development,' Modi said. 'We have taken strict action against those who spread violence, and simultaneously, launched a new wave of development in these areas.'
As a result, he stated, the influence of Naxalism has now been reduced to fewer than 20 districts across the country. Expressing confidence, Modi said that with the current pace of development and enforcement, tribal areas will soon be entirely free from the shadow of violence.
'This is Modi's guarantee,' he declared.
The Prime Minister emphasised that empowering tribal communities, fulfilling their aspirations, and easing their hardships remains a top priority for his government.
He highlighted that for the first time, two major national schemes have been launched specifically for tribal development, with a combined outlay exceeding Rs1 lakh crore.
Modi elaborated on the first initiative — Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, under which development work is on in more than 60,000 tribal villages across India.
"In Odisha too," he noted, "we are building houses for tribal families, constructing roads, and providing electricity and clean drinking water."
Discussing the second major scheme, PM Janman Yojana, the Prime Minister said the inspiration for the initiative came from Odisha itself, and acknowledged the guidance of the country's first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu, in shaping the program.
He said the scheme focuses on supporting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), and that development work worth hundreds of crores is currently being carried out in remote tribal hamlets under this scheme. UNI DP SSP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
27 minutes ago
- India Today
Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh welcome PM to Andhra ahead of Yoga Day celebration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Visakhapatnam on Friday to take part in the International Yoga Day celebrations organised by the Andhra Pradesh government. He was welcomed at the airport by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Education and IT Minister Nara Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan posted on 'X', saying, 'I extend my hearty welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has arrived to participate in the International Yoga Day tomorrow in Visakhapatnam city, where lakhs of people will participate in the Yogandhra event being conducted by Andhra Pradesh government.'advertisementNara Lokesh also shared a message on the social media platform 'X' and wrote, 'I welcome the Honourable Prime Minister who arrived in Visakhapatnam to participate in the YogaAndhra program. Modi means motivation, Modi means dedication. Andhra Pradesh is ready to break records in organising Yoga!' The Yogandhra program is expected to be one of the largest Yoga gatherings, taking place in a 26-km-long corridor from RK Beach in Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram. Over 3 lakh people are expected to perform Yoga Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the event, which will be held from 6.30 am to 8 am on Saturday, will aim to gain international recognition and break records, including a Guinness World Record."As many as 25,000 tribal students will perform Surya Namaskars for 108 minutes. The objective is to set records for the largest group and the most people performing Surya Namaskars simultaneously," Naidu further government is aiming to organise yoga sessions in one lakh centres across the state and attract five lakh people to participate in yoga activities in 11th International Yoga Day, celebrated by several countries across the world, has been themed as 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'.With inputs from In IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
United News of India
33 minutes ago
- United News of India
TTD Ex-Chairman's allegations completely false: TTD
Tirumala, June 20 (UNI) Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) on Friday rubbished allegations levelled by its former Chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy and condemned the mudslinging at the organisation without concrete evidence. The allegations that the temple priests are not properly treated or given respect are also "completely false. They always have the respect given to them. However, many reforms have been brought about inside the temple in recent times, TTD said in a release here on Friday evening. ''It is completely untrue to say that an attempt is being made to undermine the generations of Vedic recitation in the Srivari temple and to speak derisively of the Vedic reciters. At present, the duration of Vedic recitation in Srivari temple is not only increased but also fully stabilised now. From the past one year, TTD made it prominent that the divine chant, ''Om Namo Venkatesaya'' also be heard and echoed everywhere in Srivari Temple, outside, on both footpaths, Kalyana Katta, Srivari Seva, outside queue lines, Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam Complex etc. TTD is also taking steps to increase the physical and mental strength of Vedic students in Vedic schools Inside the temple also TTD has started the process of collecting opinions from the devotees on darshan, tirtha prasadams and laid emphasis on transparency in the system. Devotees are also praising this innovative approach of TTD. The allegation regarding issuing notices to several mutts in Tirumala is also completely untrue, the TTD clarified and adding that everyone in the country is bound to Law. Following the court orders, notices were issued to Visakha Sharada Peetham and one or two other Mutts for encroaching more space than the land allocated by TTD to them, it also clarified. All the mutts are also appreciating the reforms brought by TTD in the last year. TTD has also given permission to several Mutts for repairs and modernization as per norms. It would be good to know the facts before speaking falsely that they are stopping the devotees by saying that they will provide Srivari darshan within a couple of hours with AI technology. From the past one year TTD has brought many reforms focussing on providing hassle free darshan to the multitude of devotees visiting Tirumala. TTD has been analyzing the situation from time to time like never before and perfectly following the time management in a scientific manner in maintaining the queues. An additional 22 food counters have also been set up for the devotees who are waiting in the queue lines outside serving Annaprasadams, milk, tea, coffee, buttermilk and snacks according to the timeline. With a systematic action plan, a comfortable darshan to record the number of devotees is being provided on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays like never before. To provide enhanced services to the pilgrims feedback from devotees is being received in three different modes. It is remarkable that more than 90 percent of the devotees have expressed their satisfaction with the services being provided by TTD such as Annaprasadam, accommodation, drinking water, laddu prasadams from the feedback collected through IVRS, WHATSAPP, and Srivari Sevaks. TTD is making all efforts to make darshan through Artificial Intelligence possible soon. In 2023 after a scandal in Parakamani came to light, an armoured system was put in place since last one year. A SoP in Parakamani to restore the lost trust in the system was prepared. As per the SoP, anyone entering Parakamani will have to undergo security checks and thorough scrutiny. UNI KNR SSP
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
English not a shame, but power: Opposition
Several opposition leaders on Friday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for discouraging the learning of English to deny India's poor the tools to question authority and access opportunity and called the language a 'link' across the country. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.(HT Photo) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that English plays a crucial role in instilling confidence and enhancing employment prospects, just like one's mother tongue. 'English is not a dam, but a bridge. English is not a shame, but power. English is not a chain, but a tool to break the chains. The BJP and RSS do not want poor kids of India to learn English because they do not want you to ask questions, move ahead and become equal,' the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote on X as he shared a video criticising the RSS for opposing the widespread use of English. '[RSS chief] Mohan Bhagwat says every day to not speak in English but in Hindi. But, if you look at the kids of those in the RSS and the BJP, everyone goes to England for studies… What is the thought behind it? Because they do not want you to enter the board rooms, or for you to get high-paying jobs. They want to go to English schools, carry on with their contracts… They want to keep the doors closed for you,' he could be heard saying in the video from a public event. In his post, which he wrote in Hindi, Gandhi underlined the role of English and native languages as a means of empowerment. 'Every language of India has soul, culture, and knowledge. We have to cherish them, and at the same time, teach English to every child. This is the path to an India that competes with the world and gives every child an equal opportunity,' he said. The comments came a day after Union home minister Amit Shah said that India's culture and history could not be fully understood through 'foreign languages', calling for a return to Indian languages to preserve cultural integrity. Speaking at a book launch on Thursday, Shah said 'those who speak English will soon feel ashamed'. His comments invoked criticism from Kerala ministers R Bindu and V Sivankutty, who said that the remarks indicate a 'restrictive and narrow-minded' political view and are 'condemnable'. Bindu, the state higher education minister, said that English is the most widely used language across the world to communicate with each other and also on the internet. 'The view that children should not learn English or that it will be embarrassing would only lead to their world becoming more restrictive. Moreover, India is not an isolated island in the world. So, learning English is becoming a necessity,' she said. State general education minister V Sivankutty termed Shah's remarks as 'condemnable' and said that 'no language was higher or lower than another'. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Sandosh Kumar said that Shah's statement 'is a deliberate attempt to stigmatise India's linguistic diversity and push the RSS-BJP's cultural majoritarianism'. 'English functions as India's link language, bridging regions and enabling access to education, employment, and global opportunity. To attack it is to attack the aspirations of the people, especially the youth and marginalised,' the MP said. Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose called the comments 'preposterous'. '. English is a link language across India, its aspirational, confers a global advantage and knowledge of English is demanded by millions. Indians should not be 'ashamed' of ANY language,' she said in a post on X. TMC's Derek O'Brien said India has 22 constitutionally recognised languages and 19,500 languages and dialects and this is the 'unity in diversity' of the country. In a video statement, the TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha said 97% people use one of the recognised languages as their mother tongue as he accused the Centre of not understanding this. 'In India, 97% people use one of the 22 constitutionally recognised languages as their mother tongue. 19,500 languages and dialects are used as mother tongues. This is the 'unity in diversity' of our great nation. Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi and gang will never understand this,' O'Brien said. HT reached out to BJP leaders for a comment, but did not receive any at the time of going to print.
