VOA标准英语2009年-India PM Calls for Development of Tribal C

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
04 November 2009

 
Manmohan Singh (File)
India's prime minister is calling for more attention to the development of tribal¹ communities, who have been sidelined by the country's economic boom. His message comes as the government prepares for a massive offensive against Maoist rebels, who have steadily² increased their influence in areas inhabited by tribal groups. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says there has been a systemic failure in giving tribal communities in remote areas a stake in economic development.

Addressing chief ministers of Indian states in New Delhi Wednesday, he said the resulting alienation³ is taking "a dangerous turn" in some parts of the country.

The prime minister was referring to the growing influence of armed Maoist rebels in poor and underdeveloped regions inhabited by tribal groups.

The insurgents⁴, who have taken control of vast forest areas in several eastern and central states, say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and the landless. The rebellion has become increasingly violent.   

Worried by the growing security threat posed by the Maoists, the government is preparing to mount a big security operation called Operation Greenhunt to take out the insurgents. Hundreds of security forces have been deployed⁵ in the worst affected⁶ states.

But the government is stressing that countering the rebels will not work without efforts to simultaneously⁷ draw the tribal groups into the development process.

Prime Minister Singh is asking state government to win the battle for the "hearts" of these poor communities.   

"We cannot have equitable⁸ growth without guaranteeing the legitimate⁹ rights of these hitherto marginalized and isolated¹⁰ sections of our society," he said. "In a broader sense we need to empower our tribal communities with the means to determine their own destiny, their livelihood¹¹, their own security and above all their dignity and self respect."  

The government is concerned that the rebels are easily winning new recruits among tribal groups, who have often complained of exploitation and discrimination by local officials. It has been asking state governments to give priority to development projects aimed at providing livelihood for tribal groups.  

India's economy has been growing rapidly in recent years. But development has been unevenly¹² spread in the country, and the boom has bypassed many of the country's poorer and underdeveloped regions.

1 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 alienation   

n.疏远；离间；异化

参考例句：

• The new policy resulted in the alienation of many voters.新政策导致许多选民疏远了。
• As almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated,the alienation index goes up.随着人与人之间几乎一切能想到的接触方式的自动化，感情疏远指数在不断上升。

4 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

5 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

8 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

9 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

10 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

11 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

12 unevenly   

adv.不均匀的

参考例句：

• Fuel resources are very unevenly distributed. 燃料资源分布很不均匀。
• The cloth is dyed unevenly. 布染花了。