Context:

• This article is based on the news “Left Wing Extremism will be totally eliminated from country in 2 years, says Home Minister Amit Shah” which was published in the Indian Express. Officials said violent incidents in Naxalite-affected States have come down by 77% in 2022 in comparison to the high of 2010.

Recent News on Naxalism

• In April 2023, Ten personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the civilian driver of their vehicle were reported killed in an IED attack by Naxalism-Maoist in the state’s Dantewada district.
• It was the biggest attack after the April 2021 ambush by Maoist in Chattisgarh’s Bijapur District in which 22 security forces (CRPF Black Cobra Commandos) personnel were killed.

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Red Corridor Shrinks: Steep Decline in Naxalism Violence in 2022

• The Red Corridor is the region in the central, eastern and southern parts of India that experience severe Naxalism–Maoist insurgency (Refer Map).
• Present Situation: There has been significant improvement in the LWE security situation in the country over the last five years.
• The year 2022 witnessed the lowest number of incidents of violence and deaths in Naxal-hit areas in the last four decades.
• Violent incidents in Naxalism-affected States have come down by 77% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010. The no. of districts affected dropped from 90 to 45.
• The number of deaths of security forces and civilians in LWE violence has also reduced by 90% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010, (98 in 2022 from 1005 in 2010).
• There were 17,679 LWE-related incidents and 6,984 deaths between 2004 and 2014.
• In contrast, there have been 7,649 LWE-related incidents and 2,020 deaths from 2014 to 2023 (till 15 June 23), the data showed.

What is Left-wing Extremism/Naxalism?

• Naxalism is a form of armed insurgency against the State motivated by leftist/Maoist ideologies and thus is also known as Left Wing extremism (LWE) or Maoism.

Origin Of Naxalism:

• Trigger Point: The origins of the LWE can be traced back to 1967 in the three areas of Naxalbari (from which the term Naxal originates), Phansidewa and Khoribari in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District.
• Initial Leader: The initial uprising was led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal, who were members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
• Nature of Initial Uprising: The initial uprising was in the form of a peasant revolt.
• Spread: Although originated in West Bengal, the movement spread to the less-developed rural regions of southern and eastern India, in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Today, almost all the Naxalism groups trace their origins to the CPI (M-L).

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Evolution Of Naxalism In India

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What were the roots of the Naxalism movement?

• Land Related Factors: The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 forbids tribals who depend on forest goods for their livelihood from even harvesting a bark.
• Jal-Jangal-Jameen (3Js): Encroachment and occupation of govt. and community lands, Non-regularization of traditional land rights, Evading ceiling laws, Acquisition of land without appropriate compensation and rehabilitation etc
• Political Factors: Nature and apathy of the political system towards tribals remained one of the most important factors that led to such uprisings.
  • Inability of political authority towards the deprived sections of society in India to provide avenues for structural uplift in the affected states. 
• Economic Factors: A few problems include communication, access to energy, poverty, a lack of access to health care, a lack of awareness and education, and unemployment.
  • Income Gap: The gap in wealth between the wealthy and the poor is growing.(  The poverty levels in the Naxalism affected states of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are much higher (with more than 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line).
  • Issues of agrarian community: The Maoists have included in their programme signing off the peasant’s debts, besides restoration of farm subsidies, investment in irrigation, proper prices of farm produce and restricting Multinational Companies.
• Environmental Degradation: Environmental degradation in the form of the destruction of land and water resources due to mining and industrial activities. For Example: Chhattisgarh Tribals Protest Against Coal Mines In Hasdeo Arand Region.
• Lack of basic facilities: Lack of basic facilities like education, freedom, sanitation and food.
  • The socially backward tribals form the major support base for Naxalism because of inequality, illiteracy and lack of opportunities.
• Governance Deficit: Regular administration, lack of state government action to solve the issue, absence of administration in remote areas, execution, and improper management of government initiatives.
• Social deficit: Violation of human rights, Abuse of dignity of life, Disconnect with mainstream society.

What are the steps taken by the government to stop Naxalism?

To holistically address the LWE problem effectively, the Government has formulated a National Policy and Action Plan (2015) adopting a multi-pronged strategy in security, development, ensuring rights & entitlement of local communities, etc.

• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: This Scheme is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces’. The SRE Scheme aims to strengthen the LWE-affected States’ capacity to fight the LWE menace effectively. Under the scheme, Rs. 1930 crore have been released since 2017-18.
• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE-affected districts: it aims to fill the critical gaps in Public Infrastructure and Services, which are of an emergent nature. Rs. 3295 crore have been released to the States since 2017-18
• SAMADHAN- A Comprehensive Policy Tool: It is an integrated strategy that enables LWE to be successfully and fully combated. A collection of both short- and long-term policies developed at various levels.
• Operation Green Hunt (2010): Massive security force deployments were made in the naxalism-affected areas beginning in 2010.
• • Within nine years, the number of districts affected by Naxalism has decreased from 223 in 2010 to 90 today.
• Road Connectivity Project for LWE-affected Areas (RCPLWE): Under the scheme, 12100 km of roads and 701 bridges are sanctioned. 8124 km of roads and 306 bridge works have been completed.
• Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with monitoring the of Aspirational districts programme in 35 LWE-affected districts.

Way Forward: Converting Vicious Cycle Into A Virtuous Cycle Of Development

• Promoting Cooperative Federalism: Centre and states should continue with their coordinated efforts where the Centre should play a supportive role with state police forces taking the lead.
• Eliminate The Feeling Of Alienation From Tribals: Eliminate the root cause of the problem that is leading to the alienation of tribals in this area.
  • Forest Rights: Effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006.
• Financial Empowerment: Introduce measures to encourage the formation of ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) and cooperative societies to improve access to credit and marketing and empower the disadvantaged.
• Leveraging The Use Of Technology: Such as micro or mini-UAVs or small drones, high-resolution PTZ cameras, GPS tracking, hand-held thermal imaging, radar and satellite imaging to minimize the loss of lives of security personnel.
• Open the channels for Political dialogues: With their domination being very weak and confidence low, it is the best time to have a peace dialogue with rebels.
• Learning from best Practices: Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh have been successful in minimizing Maoist activities to a large extent.
  • Similarly, as Chhattisgarh police have experience in tackling Maoists in Bastar, they are now coordinating with the bordering states to strengthen intelligence and ground presence.

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Conclusion

The socio-economic and political dynamics and aspirations of 21st-century India are far removed from the Maoist worldview. Further, an ideology based on violence and annihilation will fail in a democracy that offers legitimate forums for grievance redressal.

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