To intensify further the fight against the Red rebels, the State Level Committee on Anti-Maoist Operations has approved an annual Budget of Rs 70 crore for 2018-19 under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.

This approved Budget would be placed before the Union Government, said Home Secretary Asit Tripathy after the meeting chaired by Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Saturday. This would cover the State’s 19 Leftwing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts, he said.

The other members present at the meeting included DGP RP Sharma and IG (Operation) RP Koche. Tripathy said, “Every year, the Union Government provides funds to the State under the Security Related Expenditure scheme. From the year 2018-2019, the total fund has been divided in a ratio of 60:40 by the Centre and the State, respectively.”

“The Center will spend Rs 50 to Rs 60 crore and the rest would be given by the State,” he added.

Padhi informed that the scheme would ensure development of the police stations, logistics, equipments and vehicular reimbursements in the LWE areas. The amount would be spent on fortifying police stations with construction of compound walls of police stations and imparting training to police personnel and to meet the ammunition expenses of the forces. Besides, compensation would be paid from this fund to the next of the kin of security personnel and civilians killed during operations.

Notably, the State Government would receive Rs 230 crore in four years for development of infrastructure and services in the Maoist-affected districts under the National Policy and Action Plan (NPAP) launched by the Centre.

The NPAP covers projects on ensuring security, development of infrastructure, forest rights of tribal people and other related issues.

Out of the 35 LWE-affected districts in the country, two districts of Odisha, Malkangiri and Koraput, would be covered under the scheme. Each district would receive Rs 28.57 crore for the next three financial years taking the total to Rs 173.42 crore.

The State Government, however, received Rs 57.14 crore for utilisation in 2017-18 as there are only less than two months for the financial year to end.

Besides Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra would also receive funds under the scheme for development in Maoist-hit districts.

Though actually 106 districts in the country are affected by LWE menace, a majority of Maoist violent incidents occurs in 35 districts of seven States.

The Odisha Government has requested the Centre to include Kalahandi district under the Worst-Affected District List.