New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS): Holding that children and education were the biggest casualties in conflict-ridden areas, a report has suggested that schools in areas affected by civil strife be immediately demilitarised and developed as zones of peace.

In remote areas of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, Gajapati in Odisha and Khunti and Lohardagga in Jharkhand, schools do not exist despite the Right to Education Act, the report "Caught in crossfire - children and education in regions affected by civil strife" by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Save the Children said.

It is imperative that in the areas affected by civil strife, schools and areas in the immediate vicinity of schools be immediately demilitarised and developed as zones of peace, the report released by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said Thursday.

Many schools have been destroyed and several schools still continue to be occupied by security forces, making them targets for Maoist groups, it stated further.

"There is an urgent need to change the way policymakers think about tribal areas. To policymakers, they are just mineral-rich areas that need to be developed," said Jairam Ramesh.

Saying that it was not always the security forces in strife-torn areas who were to be blamed, he said: "We should not always demonize security forces. If there is no security, there can be no development."

The report further said primary health centres, anganwadis, roads, functional hand pumps, toilets and power supply are all missing in strife-torn places. "Where schools do exist, they have poor infrastructure with inadequate number of teachers to run them."

Shireen Vakil Miller, the NGO's advocacy director said: "All schools should be demilitarised immediately, as per the Supreme Court order. The government must focus on development efforts and initiate measures to build confidence amongst the local population by investing in schools, teachers, anganwadis and health centres."

The report also found that schools often have absolutely no teaching or learning resources, and that getting to school could be dangerous for children.

"Since most upper primary or secondary schools are located at a considerable distance from their homes, girls drop out after primary school and become more vulnerable and the target of the armed groups, who use them for exploitative purposes," the report said.

According to government data, 14 districts in Chhattisgarh, 19 in Odisha and 23 in Jharkhand are Maoist-affected.