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ShareBhubaneswar: After all the fire power failed, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik has come up with a new weapon to fight the Maoist menace. He will promote sports in all Maoist-affected districts to wean the youth away from Maoists. The state will promote games like volley ball, football, hockey and cricket.
"Rs2 lakh would be given to every tribal dominated district to distribute sports kits and organise sports events," Patnaik said.Elated over the proposal, sports secretary Suresh Chandra Patnaik said it would help bind the youth together.
In the last five years, the state government has appointed 8,852 police personnel. Also 900 ex-servicemen were recruited to raise the Orissa Special Striking Force. Another 2,100 special police officers consisting of tribals were recruited from Maoist-affected districts.
But with the Maoists still active, the state believes the sport events will do the trick. The state has also decided to engage tribal youth against Maoists. The state plans to appoint 4,000 youths as home guards and recruit another 3,000 special police officers from tribal districts.
Patnaik has also urged the Union defence minister to launch a special recruitment drive for tribal youths "with suitable modifications in the minimum required physical standard" in the armed forces.The CM also plans to fill up all health sector vacancies in areas affected by Maoists on a priority basis.
Meanwhile on Sunday night, Maoists attacked a railway station at Sagadapata in Keonjhar and beat up the officials and snatched their mobile phones.
