WEST Bengal is off the extremely affected list in the Central government’s policy on management of the Maoist menace. It does not include West Midnapore which was on the earlier list meaning that may not be eligible for special treatment under the new policy. The policy identifies four to five blocks in each of the twenty three districts listed under the policy and plans to turn them into model development hubs. The blocks will get schools, electricity supply, hospitals, fortified police stations, telephone connectivity and roads. However, West Midnapore along with Bankura and Purulia will remain part of the Integrated Action Plan and Security Related Scheme and so there will be no dearth of funds for development of the region. West Bengal has always been considered only partially affected by the Maoist menace. Since 2011 the threat has declined further. West Bengal witnessed only one such violent incident last year and none this year. Nevertheless, some forces will be deployed along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.
It is not clear how Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take the Centre’s line, as a bouquet or a marginalization of the Maoist threat in West Bengal which was considered only partially affected. The Trinamool Congress used the Left Front’s failure to contain Maoist violence as a weapon against it to win its sweeping victory in 2011. The Centre’s attitude may be seen as an effort to underrate Mamata Banerjee’s success in eradicating insurgency from Jangalmahal. Depriving West Midnapore of special treatment may be regarded as an instance of the Centre’s step-motherly treatment which Mamata Banerjee is constantly harping on. On the other hand, her government may compliment itself for bringing the number of Maoist outrages to zero. As against that, it may be said that little development of the region has taken place in the last three years.
