Left Wing Extremism | Gist of Rajya Sabha TV / RSTV (now Sansad TV) - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• Since a few decades ago, a number of Left Wing Extremist organisations have been active in some isolated and underdeveloped regions of the nation. In order to combat Left Wing Extremism, the government has established a comprehensive strategy that addresses security, development, securing local populations' rights and entitlements, enhancing governance, and managing public perception. 
• The most crucial element of the 2015-approved National Policy Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism is development. 
• Over the years, these initiatives have had encouraging outcomes.
•  Left Wing Extremism related violence in the country has declined by 77% from all time high of 2258 incidents in 2009 to 509 in 2021. Security Forces and civilian casualties due to these incidents has also declined by 85% from all time high of 1005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021.

Causes

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 in India to provide avenues for structural uplift to the deprived sections of society in the affected states.
• Lack of political participation by the tribal community.

Economic Factors

• Poverty and economic inequality and underdevelopment in the naxal affected regions.
• Entry of mining companies in Tribal lands and forests, posing threat to the livelihood of the tribals.
• Indigenous tribal population deprived of their lands, uprooted from their traditional source of livelihood.
• The benefits of the resource exploitation are not passed on the tribals.

Environmental Degradation

• Environmental degradation in the form of destruction of land and water resources due to mining and industrial activates.

Lack of basic facilities

• Lack of basic facilities like education, freedom, sanitation and food.
• The socially backward tribals form the major support base for Naxalites because of inequality, illiteracy and lack of opportunities.

Reasons for the reversals faced by CRPF in fight against Naxals

• Lack of a common plan across the states
• Lack of coordination between state police and Central forces.
• Inadequate training and combat capability of forces in Maoism affected states.
• Lack of institutionalized intelligence sharing between states and regions.
• Naxalites are well versed with terrain which gives them a substantial upper hand in armed struggle.

Government’s approach

• Operation Green Hunt: started in 2010 and massive deployment of security forces was done in the naxal-affected areas. From 223 districts that were affected due to naxalism in the year 2010, the number has come down to 90 in nine years.
• Aspirational Districts Programme
• The Government’s approach is to deal with Left Wing Extremism in a holistic manner, in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, improvement in governance and public perception management
• ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ being State subjects, action on maintenance of law and order lies primarily in the domain of the State Governments.
• Filling up critical infrastructure gaps under the Scheme for Special Infrastructure in Left Wing Extremism affected States.
• Assistance in training of State Police through the Ministry of Defence.
• Assistance in community policing and civic action programmes.
• ‘National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism’, aimed at eliminating the menace in the shortest possible timeframe.
• Anti-left-wing extremism (LWE) policy to enhance the deployment of central forces in the Naxal infested areas in the state.

Ways to end Naxalism in India

• Good governance
  • The presence of Naxals in the country also reveals the loopholes in the law and order of the country which has failed to curb the menace.
  • Central government needs to implement a coherent national strategy to end Naxalism.
• Dialogue
  • Dialogues between the Naxal leaders, and the government officials can be a way work out a solution.
  • The government should initiate sincere dialogue with Naxalites.
• Generate more employment and increase wages
  • Insecure livelihood and unemployment in the areas have left the people with no option but to join the Naxals.
  • If we are actually thinking of ways to end Naxalism, we’ll first have to provide the people of the area with proper employment opportunities with increased wages
• Rehabilitation and resettlement
  • mining grounds, irrigation areas, industries, etc., in the area without any provision for the resettlement of the displaced people has only added to the woes of the poor
  • There needs to be more emphasis on rehabilitation of these affected population
• Prevent environmental degradation
  • Environmental degradation in the form of destruction of land and water resources due to mining and industrial activates
  • The locals are left with disrupted lives and adversely affecting tourism
• Stop the political marginalization of weaker sections
  • Weaker sections of the society, the schedule castes and schedule tribes still face discrimination from the upper class.
  • These downtrodden sections don’t enjoy equal participation in casting and contesting politically, making them soft targets of Naxals.
• Remove disparity
  • Economic disparity and the growing distance between rich and the poor is one of the main problems that has contributed to the growth of Naxalism
  • This distance needs to be filled to an extent hastily to stop Naxalism
• Let ordinary citizens have access to basic resources
  • One of the major reasons for unrest is the exploitation of forest and lands of the tribal people for industrial purposes.
  • The loss of land and the lack of basic facilities like education, freedom, sanitation and food
• Take steps for welfare of the tribals
  • The socially backward tribals form the major support base for Naxalites because of inequality, illiteracy and lack of opportunities.
  • It’s important to prevent these people from falling in the Naxal trap.
• Modernize law enforcement agencies
  • the major policing lies in the hands of the state governments
  • At federal level, many agencies are under the command of Union Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Central government must inroads into these disturbed states with their agencies well-equipped with modern artillery and assist the usually poorly-equipped agencies of the state.

Need of the Hour

• Central and State governments, the administration and the security establishment need to recognise that the movement cannot be approached from a purely law and order point of view.
• The process of improving the conditions of the poor and the tribals clearly need to be speeded up if the movement is to be effectively checked.
• Winning the hearts and minds of the tribal population and other marginalised groups will lie at the core of the counter-insurgency strategy
• Development of road and rail infrastructure will not only enhance economic growth and development but will also help in countering Maoist propaganda
• The improved road connectivity will also have a multiplier effect on the effectiveness of the security forces in carrying out operations.
• Providing incentives and alternate life support system to those surrendered.

Conclusion

• Through a holistic approach focusing on development and security related interventions, the LWE problem can be successfully tackled.
• Civil society and the media should build pressure on the Maoists to eschew violence, join the mainstream and recognise the fact that the socio-economic and political dynamics and aspirations of 21st Century India are far removed from the Maoist world-view.
• An ideology based on violence and annihilation is doomed to fail in a democracy which offers legitimate forums of grievance redressal.