We had this class on Conflict Vs Development in which two reports were discussed. One the Planning Commission report on Naxal Affected areas and the POSCO committee report.During the course of the class one of the questions raised was that if PMRDF will bring about the development that the state is talking about in the Maoist controlled zones.

For those who are wondering what PMRDF is, I shall try to explain the concept as much as i have understood it. PMRDF stands for Prime Minister rural Development Fellowships and these fellowships will be in around 60 districts where the Maoists have considerable presence. One of the primary objectives of the fellows would be to help the collectorate to initiate the Integrated Action Plan which will focus on the development activities in these districts.

Now the objectives as given on the website http://pmrdfs.tiss.edu/objectives.php are as follows:

On 13th of september, Union Minister of Rural Development Mr. Jairam Ramesh announced a scheme of PM’s Rural Development Fellows (PMRDF), for deploying young professionals in each of the IAP districts to assist the District Collector. What is implicit in the announcement is the fact that the challenge of Naxalite violence cannot be dealt with by following the ʻbusiness as usualʼ principle. New ways of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of public services must be found.

  • This requires rigorous efforts to understand the community and its socio-cultural and political structure, local economy and its linkages, and relationship of the political and executive machinery with the community.
  • Above all, it requires nurturing relationships among all the important actors in a way that the disaffection and discontent are addressed effectively.
  • Creating a deep sense of empathy in the administration for the poorer and marginalised sections of society is a non-negotiable factor for democratic governance in areas under Naxalite influence.
  • Moreover, the district administration needs strong support in improving the planning process, refurbishing the implementation machinery, monitoring results and influencing government decisions for quick redressal when necessary.

It also talks of having strong commitment towards the values of equity and social justice and a passion for making a difference in the lives of the people.

keeping these objectives in mind one shall now try to address a few questions that comes to ones mind. Does the state really have the intention towards Social Justice among the most oppressed groups of this country?

There have been many reports about the happenings in the zones mentioned above, a planning commission report itself agrees that the situation in these areas is far worse than many other places. therefore, if one has to believe that the PMRDF will work towards a holistic development of the people in this area them there should be some basic guidelines that one needs to work upon.

Firstly, the access to legal justice must be available to each and every citizen in these particular districts. But can this really happen? we have cases of Soni Sori, Kopa Kunjam and many other such adivasis who have been arrested under false charges and there are also hundreds of under trails who are languishing in jails across the country. Could the fellowship even address these issues?  I doubt it, they would rather work towards maintaing this status quo and not stir up the hornet’s nest in regards to this issue.

Secondly, can the fellowship address the issues around the resources and who these resources belong to? The state is hard pressed for time regarding all the FDI that is waiting for these particular resources. How can the Fellows convince the state about the fact that the rightful owners of the resources are the adivasis and not the state or the Multi and trans nationals? Can the Fellows assure the security of the resources to the adivasis?

Thirdly, Can the selected fellows alter the Power hierarchy that is already existent in these areas? Rather they themselves will also be considered as somebody with considerable power  by the locals, in such a situation how can one empathise with the poorer and marginalised sections of the society.

Fourthly, all these areas are rich in mineral resources which is the target of the corporations who are far more powerful and control governments across the world. Can the fellows stand up to the pressures that these mighty corporations and stand by the side of the “powerless” yet determined adivasis?

Fifthly, The fellows will also have to be working under the district collectors who at times are the ones who do not follow the rule of the land but take the side of the powerful corporations who plunder the resources of these areas indiscriminately without following the rule of the land, be it environment norms, human rights norms or labour norms. What effect will the fellows be when all these things are already in a condition of disparity which by itself needs a real long time for it to reach a level of equality.

Finally, the definition of “development” for the fellows and in the PMRDF is got to do with the infrastructure and other such facilities, whihc for the adivasis is a secondary need, what they need is primary health care, primary education and a space which is free of conflict induced deu to the  “development” paradigm of the state and the corporations in these areas! Can the fellows avoid the indiscriminate plundering of the natural resources in these areas?

These again were random thoughts and the class on conflict vs development helped me initiating this discussion within me which led me to write the above piece.