In a significant improvement in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) situation in Odisha, the State Government on July 10 declared five Districts—Angul, Boudh, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Nayagarh—as Maoist-free belts following zero Naxal [LWE]-triggered violence in these regions in the last few years, reports The Times of India. The Director General of Police (DGP) Abhay said the State Government has approved the removal of the five Districts from the Centre-sponsored Security-Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, which is exclusively meant for capacity building in Maoist-affected Districts. Out of total 30 Districts in Odisha, altogether 10 districts are now affected by the LWE. The 10 LWE-affected Districts are – Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagda, Bargarh, Balangir, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh.