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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated,...

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated, highlighting the dramatic turnaround. He revealed that from approximately 100 Maoist cadres on record in January 2024, the number has plummeted to barely 10 individuals whose movements are now confined to a very small pocket of the Bhamragad sub-division in South Gadchiroli, near the Chhattisgarh border. “North Gadchiroli is now free of Maoism. The Maoists have to surrender and join the mainstream or face police action... there is no other option.” The SP attributes this success to a meticulously executed multi-pronged strategy encompassing intensified anti-Maoist operations, a robust Civic Action Programme, and the effective utilisation of Maharashtra’s attractive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The Gadchiroli Police, especially the elite C-60 commandos, have achieved significant operational milestones. In the last three years alone, they have neutralised 43 hardcore Maoists and achieved a 100 per cent success rate in operations without police casualties for nearly five years. SP Neelotpal highlighted that the security forces have aggressively moved to close the “security vacuum,” which was once an estimated 3,000 square kilometres of unpoliced territory used by Maoists for training and transit. The establishment of eight new police camps/Forward Operating Bases (FoBs) since January 2023, including in the remote Abujhmad foothills, has been crucial in securing these areas permanently. Winning Hearts, Minds The Civic Action Programme has been deemed a “game changer” by the SP. Through schemes like ‘Police Dadalora Khidaki’ and ‘Project Udaan’, the police have transformed remote outposts into service delivery centres, providing essential government services and employment opportunities. This sustained outreach has successfully countered Maoist propaganda and, most critically, resulted in zero Maoist recruitment from Gadchiroli for the last few years. Surrender Wave The state’s progressive rehabilitation policy has seen a massive influx of surrenders. “One sentiment is common among all the surrendered cadres: that the movement has ended, it has lost public support, and without public support, no movement can sustain,” the SP noted. The surrender of key figures, notably that of Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias ‘Bhupathi,’ a CPI (Maoist) Politburo member, and his wife Sangeeta, was a “landmark development” that triggered a surrender wave. Since June 2024, over 126 Maoists have surrendered. The rehabilitation program offers land, housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and employment. Surrendered cadres are receiving skill training and are successfully transitioning into normal life, with around 70 already employed in the local Lloyds plant. A District Reborn The transformation of Gadchiroli is now moving beyond security concerns. With the decline of extremism, the district is rapidly moving towards development and normalcy. The implementation of development schemes, round-the-clock electricity, water supply, mobile towers, and new infrastructure like roads and bridges is being given top priority. He concludes that the police’s focus is now shifting from an anti-Maoist offensive to routine law-and-order policing, addressing new challenges like industrialisation, theft, and traffic management. With the Maoist movement in “complete disarray” and major strongholds like the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone collapsing, the SP is highly optimistic. Gadchiroli is not just getting rid of the Naxal menace; it is embracing its future as a developing, peaceful district, well on track to meet the central government’s goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Decoding India’s New ‘Jam Trinity’ in Digital Finance

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

am Trinity

India’s digital finance landscape is rapidly evolving, and the latest addition to this transformation is the Unified Lending Interface (ULI). After the overwhelming success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced ULI as a groundbreaking platform to streamline and rapidly scale the digital lending process. Currently, in its pilot stage, ULI is poised to revolutionize how credit is accessed, particularly by New-to-credit, agricultural borrowers and medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs).

The Need for a Unified Lending Interface Access to credit has long been a challenge for many sectors in India, especially in the unbanked, rural, agriculture and MSMEs sectors. Despite the rapid expansion of credit coverage and increasing digitization of financial services, there is a significant unfulfilled demand for credit. Traditional lending processes often involve complex paperwork, multiple intermediaries, and lengthy approval times, making it difficult for small borrowers and people in remote areas to access loans easily.

The ULI addresses these issues by digitizing and expediting the loan application and approval process. By doing so, it aims to create a more efficient and accessible credit system for sectors that are crucial to India’s economic growth. The introduction of ULI marks a significant step toward bridging the credit gap and ensuring that financial resources are readily available where they are most needed.

Breaking Down the ULI

The Unified Lending Interface is designed to reduce the turnaround time (TAT) for credit assessment, loan processing and approval. It does this by facilitating a seamless exchange of digital information between lenders and borrowers. One of the key features of ULI is its ability to integrate financial data from various sources, including Aadhaar, e-KYC, PAN databases, land title records, cattle ownership, milk production, credit scores, bank accounts, and loan payment information of borrowers. This unified access ensures easy and comprehensive access to borrower information, leading to faster and more informed loan approvals.

With its plug-and-play architecture, ULI allows lenders to quickly access the information they need, reducing the time spent on due diligence and facilitating informed credit decisions. The platform features standardized application programming interfaces (APIs), ensuring smooth data integration and retrieval from multiple channels. This comprehensive approach simplifies the lending process, making it easier for rural and smaller borrowers to secure loans.

The New ‘Jam Trinity’

The introduction of ULI represents a significant leap forward in India’s digital infrastructure journey. It forms part of what is being referred to as the new 'Jam Trinity' in digital finance: the combination of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and now, Unified Lending Interface (ULI). Together, these platforms are creating a robust digital ecosystem that reduces the need for extensive documentation and streamlines access to financial services.

JAM has already expanded financial inclusion in India, providing millions of people with access to bank accounts, identity verification, and mobile connectivity. UPI revolutionized payments, making digital transactions seamless and accessible to all. Now, with the introduction of ULI, the focus is on credit access, completing the cycle of financial inclusion and empowerment.

Shaping the future

Currently, ULI is in the pilot stage, with plans for a nationwide rollout in the near future. During this phase, the platform is being tested to ensure that it meets the needs of both lenders and borrowers.

With seamless and comprehensive access to broader data points on borrowers, it will democratize credit reach by speeding up approvals and enhancing credit access to the unbanked and NTC segment.

The concept of aggregating the insights that are currently spread across different entities could well be a game changer for credit expansion in the MSME and rural segments. By enhancing transparency, reducing frictional inefficiencies, and promoting financial inclusion, the ULI will create the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive credit landscape in India.

As India continues its journey towards a fully digital economy, the Unified Lending Interface stands out as a pivotal development. Once fully implemented, as part of the new ‘Jam Trinity’; ULI is set to play a critical role in shaping the future of digital finance in India and drive the growth agenda for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

(The writer is Co-founder and CEO of Credgenics. Views personal.)

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