Bhubaneswar, June 10: The Orissa government’s bid to supplement its coercive drive against the Maoists with a developmental initiative in the Red bastions has been baulked by fear playing on the minds of the people in these areas.

“Even social forestry work in districts like Koraput and Malkangiri is being hampered as officials have failed to involve the local people who apprehend reprisal from the Maoists. In many areas, even officials are reluctant to carry out developmental works,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Sources said that keeping the fear factor in mind the government last year had decided to offer special incentives to officials posted in the Maoist belt. Among others things they were to be provided with an insurance cover and compensation in the event falling victim to attacks by Left-wing ultras. While they were to be compulsorily provided with government accommodation and other basic facilities during their posting in the “disturbed” areas, after three years of service of continuous service there, they could opt for a posting of their choice. This was more or less on the lines of incentives provided to policemen deployed in the Naxal-infested belt earlier, but the initiative has failed to yield results with officials still reluctant to take up jobs in these areas and when they do join they hardly ever step out of their offices fearing attacks from the rebels. “Developmental work is bound to suffer under the circumstances because it involves field visits. The most worrisome aspect involves forest officials who are reluctant to even interact with forest protection committees in the villages,” said an official, adding that it had become imperative to instil confidence, both among government functionaries and the common people in these areas, which would otherwise remain bereft of development.

Sources said that Maoists had a vested interest in keeping their strongholds underdeveloped as steps such as introduction of good roads, better communication facilities, education and health could spell doom for the rebels themselves who thrive in inaccessible and densely forested villages where neither schools nor hospitals exist.

“If roads are built, it will make police operation against them easy. Similarly, spread of education is likely to break their stranglehold on illiterate people. Hence they want these areas to remain backward forever, but continue to blame the government for the same,” said an official. The government, unfortunately, is yet to come up with an effective answer to this strategy of the Maoists.