By IANS
New Delhi : The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) Monday recommended the implementation of a 14-point strategy announced in parliament to fight Maoism.
“A long-term (10-year) and short-term (5-year) programme of action based on the 14-point strategy announced in parliament may be formulated by the union government in consultation with the concerned state governments to identify state specific action (to combat Maoism),” ARC chairperson M. Veerappa Moily said.
Moily added that along with the 14-point strategy, negotiations with the extremist outfits should be an important mode of conflict resolution. The commission stated that a major reason for the fall in periodic official inspections and review of organisational performances in the disturbed areas was the fear of personal safety among officers.
The need for enhancing the capacity of the security forces to act effectively and firmly in the troubled areas was also reiterated. Formation of special task force on the lines of greyhounds in Maoist-affected Andhra Pradesh has been proposed. Local level police stations should also be strengthened, the commission said.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has drawn flak from the opposition parties for allegedly being soft in dealing with Maoism.
A union home ministry report released this year confirmed that Maoism was a threat in states like Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.