SECURITY
1. Linkages between development and spread of
extremism.
Extremism
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India
The Naxal insurgency in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal by the Communist
Party of India (Marxist). They are the group of people who believe in the political theory derived from the
teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.
The Naxalites claim to represent the most oppressed people in India, those who are often left untouched by
India's development and bypassed by the electoral process
The conflict is concentrated the Eastern part of the country, particularly an area known as the Red Corridor
spread across the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
It aims to overthrow the government through people's war.
It creates conditions for non-functioning of the government and actively seeks disruption of development
activities as a means to achieve its objective of ‘wresting control’. It spreads fear among the law-abiding
citizens.
The problem of LWE or Naxalism in India continues to rank high in the list of internal security
challenges that the country faces. But past few years have seen a considerable improvement in the LWE
scenario.
The total number of violent incidents of LWE has drastically reduced from 1048 in 2016 to 908 in 2017.
The related deaths have seen a 34% decline in 2017 as compared to 2013 indicating success
of government efforts.
Compared to 2013, surrenders by LWE cadres have increased by 411 percent in 2016.
There has been a 43% reduction in casualties to Security Forces personnel.
MHA has also recently redrew the red corridor by bringing down the number of districts affected with
Naxal violence from 106 to 90, spread across 11 states and worst-affected district to 30 from 36.
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar are declared severely affected by LWE.
The prime criteria for removing the districts and including new ones was “Incidents of violence”.
Reasons for decline in violence
greater presence of security forces across the LWE affected States.
loss of cadres/leaders on account of arrests, surrender and desertions.
Rehabilitation program of government
better monitoring of development schemes in affected areas
insurgency fatigue among the Maoist cadres.
shortage of funds, arms and ammunitions.
However, the LWE are targeting new States and are trying to carve out the base at the tri-junction of
, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Urban naxalism is also posing threat. It is an old Maoists strategy to focus on urban centres for leadership,
organise masses, build a united front and engage in military tasks such as providing personnel, material and
infrastructure.
Both the Maoist rebels and the security forces seem engaged in a cycle of violence, with ordinary citizens
caught in the middle, suffering losses of lives, livelihoods, and living in an atmosphere of fear and
intimidation.
Causes for Spread of Left Extremism
Land Related Factors
Evasion of land ceiling laws.
Existence of special land tenures (enjoying exemptions under ceiling laws).
Encroachment and occupation of Government and Community lands (even the water-bodies) by powerful sections of society.
Lack of title to public land cultivated by the landless poor.
Poor implementation of laws prohibiting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in the Fifth Schedule areas
Non-regularisation of traditional land rights.
Governance Related Factors
Corruption and poor provision/non-provision of essential public services including primary health care and education.
Incompetent, ill trained and poorly motivated public personnel who are mostly absent from their place of posting.
Misuse of powers by the police and violations of the norms of law.
Perversion of electoral politics and unsatisfactory working of local government institutions.
In 2006, Forest Rights Act was enacted. But Forest Bureaucracy continued its hostility towards it.
Displacement and Forced Evictions
Eviction from lands traditionally used by tribals.
Displacements caused by mining, irrigation and power projects without adequate arrangements for rehabilitation.
Large scale land acquisition for ‘public purposes’without appropriate compensation or rehabilitation.
Livelihood Related Causes
Lack of food security –corruption in the Public Distribution System (which are often non- functional).
Disruption of traditional occupations and lack of alternative work opportunities.
Deprivation of traditional rights in common property resources.
Other issues
Environmental degradation - Land is being targeted by land mafias for mineral extraction and in that process agricultural land gets
barren
Tourism - Tourism industry in this development scenario is posing a great threat to the existing cultural-economy-governance matrix of
tribal life which is interwoven with ecology
Important Initiatives for LWE affected states
'Police' and 'Public order' being State subjects, the primary responsibility of meeting the challenge of Left Wing
Extremism (LWE) lies with the State Governments. However, the MHA and other central ministries supplement the
security efforts of the State Governments through various schemes such as:
National Policy and Action Plan implemented by MHA since 2015 is a multi-pronged strategy in the
1. Linkages between development and spread of
extremism.
Extremism
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India
The Naxal insurgency in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal by the Communist
Party of India (Marxist). They are the group of people who believe in the political theory derived from the
teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.
The Naxalites claim to represent the most oppressed people in India, those who are often left untouched by
India's development and bypassed by the electoral process
The conflict is concentrated the Eastern part of the country, particularly an area known as the Red Corridor
spread across the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
It aims to overthrow the government through people's war.
It creates conditions for non-functioning of the government and actively seeks disruption of development
activities as a means to achieve its objective of ‘wresting control’. It spreads fear among the law-abiding
citizens.
The problem of LWE or Naxalism in India continues to rank high in the list of internal security
challenges that the country faces. But past few years have seen a considerable improvement in the LWE
scenario.
The total number of violent incidents of LWE has drastically reduced from 1048 in 2016 to 908 in 2017.
The related deaths have seen a 34% decline in 2017 as compared to 2013 indicating success
of government efforts.
Compared to 2013, surrenders by LWE cadres have increased by 411 percent in 2016.
There has been a 43% reduction in casualties to Security Forces personnel.
MHA has also recently redrew the red corridor by bringing down the number of districts affected with
Naxal violence from 106 to 90, spread across 11 states and worst-affected district to 30 from 36.
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar are declared severely affected by LWE.
The prime criteria for removing the districts and including new ones was “Incidents of violence”.
Reasons for decline in violence
greater presence of security forces across the LWE affected States.
loss of cadres/leaders on account of arrests, surrender and desertions.
Rehabilitation program of government
better monitoring of development schemes in affected areas
insurgency fatigue among the Maoist cadres.
shortage of funds, arms and ammunitions.
However, the LWE are targeting new States and are trying to carve out the base at the tri-junction of
, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Urban naxalism is also posing threat. It is an old Maoists strategy to focus on urban centres for leadership,
organise masses, build a united front and engage in military tasks such as providing personnel, material and
infrastructure.
Both the Maoist rebels and the security forces seem engaged in a cycle of violence, with ordinary citizens
caught in the middle, suffering losses of lives, livelihoods, and living in an atmosphere of fear and
intimidation.
Causes for Spread of Left Extremism
Land Related Factors
Evasion of land ceiling laws.
Existence of special land tenures (enjoying exemptions under ceiling laws).
Encroachment and occupation of Government and Community lands (even the water-bodies) by powerful sections of society.
Lack of title to public land cultivated by the landless poor.
Poor implementation of laws prohibiting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in the Fifth Schedule areas
Non-regularisation of traditional land rights.
Governance Related Factors
Corruption and poor provision/non-provision of essential public services including primary health care and education.
Incompetent, ill trained and poorly motivated public personnel who are mostly absent from their place of posting.
Misuse of powers by the police and violations of the norms of law.
Perversion of electoral politics and unsatisfactory working of local government institutions.
In 2006, Forest Rights Act was enacted. But Forest Bureaucracy continued its hostility towards it.
Displacement and Forced Evictions
Eviction from lands traditionally used by tribals.
Displacements caused by mining, irrigation and power projects without adequate arrangements for rehabilitation.
Large scale land acquisition for ‘public purposes’without appropriate compensation or rehabilitation.
Livelihood Related Causes
Lack of food security –corruption in the Public Distribution System (which are often non- functional).
Disruption of traditional occupations and lack of alternative work opportunities.
Deprivation of traditional rights in common property resources.
Other issues
Environmental degradation - Land is being targeted by land mafias for mineral extraction and in that process agricultural land gets
barren
Tourism - Tourism industry in this development scenario is posing a great threat to the existing cultural-economy-governance matrix of
tribal life which is interwoven with ecology
Important Initiatives for LWE affected states
'Police' and 'Public order' being State subjects, the primary responsibility of meeting the challenge of Left Wing
Extremism (LWE) lies with the State Governments. However, the MHA and other central ministries supplement the
security efforts of the State Governments through various schemes such as:
National Policy and Action Plan implemented by MHA since 2015 is a multi-pronged strategy in the
