New Nodal Agency to Probe Naxal Cases in Chhattisgarh

• 08 Mar 2024

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh government has announced that it will constitute State Investigation Agency (SIA) as a new nodal agency to probe cases of terrorism, naxalism and left extremism in the State.

Key Points

• This agency will act as the nodal agency of the state for coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
  • For this, a total of 74 new posts including one Superintendent of Police have been created.
• In another major decision, the Cabinet also decided that it will provide farmers grants at the rate of ₹19,257 per acre under Krishak Unnati Yojana, based on the quantity of paddy procured in Kharif year 2023.
• Also started the restoration of pension scheme for those jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), 1971 during the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977.
  • Those detained for less than One month will be given Rs 8,000 per month, the ones detained for one to five months will be given Rs 15,000 per month and people detained for five months and more will be given Rs 25,000 per month.
• The Cabinet also announced the formation of a Department of Good Governance and Convergence for “effective implementation of public welfare policies, to facilitate best possible use of available resources and to ensure quick resolution of public problems”.

National Investigation Agency (NIA)

• The NIA is a federal agency of the Indian government responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes related to Terrorism, Insurgency, and other national security matters.
  • Federal agencies in a country typically have jurisdiction over matters that affect the country as a whole, rather than just individual states or provinces.
• It was established in 2009 following the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008, under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008, operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed in July 2019, amending the NIA Act, 2008.
• The NIA has the power to take over investigations of terrorism-related cases from state police forces and other agencies. It also has the authority to investigate cases across state boundaries without obtaining prior permission from state governments.

Krishonnati Yojana

• The government of India introduced the green revolution Krishonnati Yojana in 2005 to boost the agriculture sector.
• Government through the scheme plans to develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic & scientific manner to increase the income of farmers.
• The scheme looks to enhance agricultural production, productivity and better returns on produce.
• It comprises of 11 schemes and mission under a single umbrella scheme:
  • Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
  • Submission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
  • Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP)
  • Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
  • Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plan Quarantine (SMPPQ)
  • Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics (ISACES)
  • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation (ISAC)
  • Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing (ISAM)
  • National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A)

Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971

• The Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) was a controversial law passed by the Indian parliament in 1971 giving very broad powers – indefinite preventive detention of individuals, search and seizure of property without warrants, and wiretapping – in the quelling of civil and political disorder in India, as well as countering foreign-inspired sabotage, terrorism, subterfuge and threats to national security.
• The law was amended several times during the subsequently declared national emergency (1975–1977) and used for quelling political dissent.