This is very true that the youth who are joining the Maoists are unemployed and need to earn their livelihood. Not only the Paharias but other groups of Adivasis also support or join the Maoists because of the step motherly treatment of the concerned governments. The Adivasis are the soft targets of any so called development activities of which they have never gained anything. They have been derooted, they have lost their lives, livelihoods, culture and so on. The armed forces can only suppress them for a while, not for ever. Employment, education, proper rehabilitation and implementation of pro-people schemes may help healing the wounds to some extent that are already existing. Or else this agitation will grow more day by day and there will losses of public property and innocent people. Ms. J.C. Dash, Bhubaneswar
--- I am not surprised with the fate of one couple and I am sure perhaps many more such people are attracted to Maoist and naxalites activities just to get enough money to live on and not because of its ideology. Most of the tribal people living in the villages with very little job opportunities and any other benifits are easily attracted to the activities of maoists.We know the state and central govts. have been spending lot of funds since Independence for the benifit of these people. But unfortunately, these funds hardly reach them and most of these funds are pocketted by the corrupt officials, politicians and contractors. Even the political leaders of tribal people are no better and they are busy making most of these windfalls. Things are unlikely to improve until and unless there is some awareness of their rights and previlages amongst the tribal people. Dr Dhuni soren [email protected]
