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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the security challenge posed by left wing extremism would be met with full cooperation between the Centre and the States but it must be supplemented by good governance and provide additional resources for development programmes in the affected areas. Addressing the 55th meeting of the National Development Council in the national capital on Saturday, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he has asked the Planning Commission to design a holistic development programme for these areas in consultation with States and other stake holders. Dr. Singh said that the rate of inflation in wholesale prices is expected to come down to around six per cent by December this year. The Prime Minister also emphasised that good governance alone gave the people a sense of participation and empowerment and in this context effective implementation of Forest Rights Act and the Panchayat Raj extention of scheduled areas act are critical. Dr. Singh said that the present high rate of inflation was mainly due to food prices, but with a normal monsoon the rate of inflation in food prices would abate in the second half of the year. Dr. Singh urged the Chief Ministers to give agriculture the priority it deserves, as he pointed out that agriculture performance, especially food production, was crucial for food security and would help tackling the problem of inflation.

Govt to launch programme for backward districts hit by Left extremism