Naxalism & Left-wing Extremism (LWE)

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is widely recognised as one of the most serious security threats in post-independence India. Apart from that, it is also a politico-socio-economic challenge. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had described the LWE as “India’s biggest internal security challenge ever”

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs, in its report on the Demands for Grants for 2013-2014, recommended that the Central and State Govern‑ments should ensure that the fruits of development should reach the LWE infested areas and more employment offered to the youth there.

SAMADHAN

On May 08, 2017, the Union Home Minister enunciated an integrated strategy through which the LWE can be countered with full force and competence. The new strategy is called Samadhan, which is a compilation of short term and long term policies formulated at different levels. The meaning was well defined by the Home Minister as:

  1. S- Smart Leadership
  2. A- Aggressive Strategy
  3. M- Motivation and Training
  4. A- Actionable Intelligence
  5. D- Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas)
  6. H- Harnessing Technology
  7. A- Action plan for each Theatre
  8. N- No access to Financing

Less Red Corridors

The latest figures released by the Ministry of Home Affairs brought down the number of districts affected with Naxal violence from 106 to 90, spread across 11 states. The list also includes the 30 worst-affected district — six down from the previous one.

In 2015, the NDA government had adopted the ‘National Policy and Action Plan’, which aimed at addressing Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country.

44No of districts removed from the list (Telangana-19, Odisha-6, Bihar-6, West Bengal-4, Chhattisgarh-3, Jharkhand- 2, Maharashtra- 1).

30Most affected LWE districts now -Andhra Pradesh: Vishakhapatnam, Bihar: Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Chhattisgarh: Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Sukma, Jharkhand:Bokaro, Chatra, Garhwa, Giridih, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Latehar, Lohardaga, Palamu, Ranchi, Simdega West, SinghbhumMaharashtra:Gadchiroli, Odisha:Korapur, Malkangiri, Telangana:Bhadradri, Kothagudem.

8New districts added -Mandla (MP); Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh); Angul, Boudh (Odisha); West Godavari (Andhra Pradesh); Malappuram, Palakkad, Wayanad (Kerala).

Brief History of Left-Wing Extremism

  • As it began in 1967, LWE was limited to the three police station areas namely Naxalbari, Khoribari and Phansidewa of Darjeeling district in West Bengal.
  • However, in recent years, the movement has assumed alarming proportions, threatening peace and security over a vast stretch of land spreading across 10 states, described as the ‘Red Corridor’.
  • The history of LWE movement, which dates back across 50 years, has survived on some basic issues like poverty, disparity, and discontent among the masses.

Worst and Least Affected States : The States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar are considered severely affected. The States of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are considered partially affected. And the States of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are considered slightly affected.

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