Left wing extremism

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) movement has its roots in the Naxalbari area W.Bengal in the 1960’s.

Government approach on security front:

1. In the past operations like 
   • Operation Steeplechase,
   • Operation Greenhunt and
   • Operation Greyhound (Andhra Pradesh) were used to tackle the Naxalites.
   • Combat Resolute Action force (COBRA) is still in place which performs combing actions against Naxal Spread and influence.
2. Government would try to bring the insurgents on negotiation table, and offer ceasefire. But the insurgents would misuse the ceasefire to mobilize more weapons and troops.
3. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would conduct “Area domination exercises”, But when insurgents feel strong presence of CRPF, they would simply vanish, and the moment CRPF retreated, they would come back in the area.
4. Because of the above constraints government changed the strategy. Instead of offering ceasefire or conducting area domination exercises, it focused on (surgical) strikes based on hard intelligence. As a result, many of the key leaders have been arrested or eliminated, and the armed insurgent camps have been decimated.
5. Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme 
   • Under this scheme
     • funds are provided to states for meeting the recurring expenditure relating to
       1. insurance, training and operational needs of the security forces,
       2. rehabilitation of Left Wing Extremist cadres community policing,
       3. security related infrastructure for village defence committees and publicity material.
6. Scheme of Fortified Police Stations: 
   • Some 400 police stations in 9 LWE affected States at a unit cost Rs. 2 crore were sanctioned under this scheme Civic Action Programme
   • Under this scheme financial grants are sanctioned to CAPFs to undertake civic action in the affected states.
7. Surrender Policies by State Governments:
   • Naxal-affected states have also announced surrender policies whereby they offer
     • cash assistance,
     • land and other benefits in lieu of surrender.
   • However, there is no effective intelligence mechanism to identify Naxal cadres.
8. Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) to construct fortified police stations.
9. 2016’s demonetization drive also affected the LWE-funding
10. Further, in 2017, Home Ministry launched ‘SAMADHAN’ doctrine. It involves:
    • Controlling arms supply to Maoist using GPS trackers and Unique Identification number (UID) for Gelatin sticks and explosives manufacturers.
    • Each CRPF battalion deployed in the Maoist hotbed is given atleast one UAV.
    • More helicopter support for operations, including private helicopter services.
    • Joint Task Forces along inter-State boundaries, better inter-state coordination and intelligence sharing.
    • Stricter implementation of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to choke funding to LWE groups.

Government approach on Development front:

1. In 2014: Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana for holistic development of the tribal people by targeting their education, employment, healthcare, infrastructure and connectivity.
2. In 2015: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act was amended to setup District Mineral Foundation (DMF). Through this fund, all mining districts receive portion of the mining royalties. The money is spent on the development activities decided by the local people.
3. Civic Action Plan: Each CRPF company is given Rs.3 lakh for holding medical camps, sanitation drives, sports meets, distribution of study material to children, minor repairs of school building, road, bridges to build confidence among the locals.
4. Media Action Plan: Each district is given Rs.7 lakh to advertise Government schemes.
5. Union Government is organizing extensive training and capacity building programs for of the state service officials for implementation of Forest Rights act and PESA Act.
6. Additional Central Assistance’ (ACA) for LWE affected districts for creating public infrastructures and services such as school, hospital, road and rail connectivity, mobile connectivity, and electricity network.
7. Employment, skill development, ITI construction etc. have special funds earmarked for LWE with Key Performance Indicators (KPI).
8. Union Government implemented the 14th Finance Commission report due to which LWE State Governments have more funds at their disposal to carry out tailor-made developmental schemes as per their requirements.
9. In order to holistically address the LWE problem in an effective manner, Government has formulated National Policy and Action Plan adopting multi-pronged strategy in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights & entitlement of local communities etc.

Conclusion:

The issues of internal armed rebellion are sensitive and needs a strategic multi-pronged approach of deterrence and development. Militarization against own countrymen will not bring any solution. The government has to reach out to the local people and ascertain them of their good intent of bright futures for their children in education and peace