[9/11] Left Wing Extremism: What more can be done?

Naxalism is not merely a law and order issue. To truly eliminate naxalism, we must undercut its raison d’être, its reason for existence. While the methods of Naxalites may be abhorrent, most of their goals (apart from overthrowing the government) are not. The government must fulfil these goals for them so that they have nothing to fight for.
The government must adopt a multipronged composite strategy. We can broadly divide the strategy as follows:
1. Development strategy:
• Better infrastructure in core naxal areas
• Special focus on political security and accelerated socio economic development in a holistic manner
• Political parties must strengthen their cadre base in naxal areas
• Decentralisation and participative democracy
• Better implementation of government schemes


2. Security strategy
• Promote local resistance groups on lines on ‘village defence committees’ in J&K
• Formation of specially trained special task forces on the pattern of Greyhounds in affected states
• Professional dominance by security forces with primacy of state police at all levels
• Modernisation and upgradation of state police infrastructure, weapons and technical equipment
• Strengthening local intelligence units
• Tightening control on availability of explosives
• Posting of competent and motivated police officers in LWE affected areas


3. Psychological Operations
• Administration should engage with public at large, civil society, NGOs to restore people’s faith and confidence in the government machinery
• Media and public perception management


4. Other measures:
• The doors for peace talks should always be open
• There should be genuine attempts to win the hearts and minds of people
• Time-bound conviction of arrested cadre must be ensured through vital reforms in criminal justice system
• Effective surrender and rehabilitation policy ensuring proper safety and care of their families
• Better adherence to law legislated for protection and development of tribals


5. Understanding the tribal psychology and addressing their concerns:
Efforts should be made to better understand the tribal psychology e.g. the tribals having been left out of the development process are also oblivious to the potential enhancement in the quality of life if the growth process were to touch them. If they knew the potential benefits of growth, they would realize the futility of violence and see reason to participate in the growth process and become part of the mainstream without losing their identity and culture.
Another example: The tribals’ opposition to part away with their land is not only due to livelihood concerns, but also their shield against a system they are unfamiliar with. The fear of not being fit enough to participate in a system alien to them also adds as a disincentive to give up their land. This, in the end, results in a conflict as there is a clash of ideas that ultimately drives the tribals further away from the mainstream and the reach of the Indian State.
Efforts should therefore be made to better understand the tribal psychology and address their concerns.
6. Need for policy changes:
Nanadan Nilekani in his book ‘Imagining India’ argues that empowering local tribal communities to take decisions on forest resources and environment through PESA and the Forest Rights Act can enable them to leverage their lands for economic gains. Nilekani argues that the challenges posed by climate change have actually opened up the possibility of integrating the unorganized economic activity of the tribals. He adds that once resource rights are established, rural and tribal communities can earn incomes by participating in carbon cap and trading schemes with businesses and industries. Connecting these tribal groups (in the same way NCDEX has connected India’s farmers to commodity markets) would bring these communities into our markets in big way.
But, measures such as these require drastic policy shifts at the very top. An environment policy for the future could indirectly bring the historically marginalized citizens of India i.e. the tribals into the mainstream facilitating participation in the larger growth process of an economically resurgent India.
7. Strengthening local self-government:
Strengthening local self govt. in extremist affected area is a necessary step for regaining the lost faith of tribals in state machinery. Strengthening of local self govt. with additional financial and decision making power would promote development by making them stakeholders in development. Holding regular elections is a must for people to response faith in 3rd tier of governance.
8. Bringing adivasis and other marginalized to political mainstream:
Right to vote is an important political right. Assertion of this right and demanding accountability from elected representative has been difficult for the marginalized groups. Awareness abd empowerment is needed.
9. Education and social empowerment:
A majority of adivasis are uneducated, education can help them to demand their rights and fight for them. Apart from this, discrimination related to residence, food, clothing, marriage and employment must be removed.
10. Providing with more employment opportunities:
Roping in more NGOs and other groups that work with these tribals to help them get more skills and opening new vistas of employment based on their skills can help nip alienating feeling among them.
11. Land to the tiller:
Land still remain the primary source of sustenance for large no. of tribals . land reforms letter and spirit granting right of land to the tiller can root out long standing dissatisfaction among the tribals . Along with this, access to common resources like forest produce, ponds, stream etc, even in reserve forest can help tribal livelihood.
12. Communication between officials and tribals:
For years extremist have exploited the lack of communication between govt. and tribals. Effective policy of continuous communication would allay fears and help bring tribals and marginalized into mainstream of development.
13. Justice to human rights victims:
In the strife torn areas, human rights violation by security forces must be dealt sternly. Urgent action for providing justice is needed.
14. Conclusion
Inequalities between classes have increased over the years which act as source unrest. Constitution is article 39 mandates states to prevent concentration of wealth in few hands but policy makers often ignore this resulting into two words : BHARAT  and INDIA. Only when adivasis and marginalized groups are taken care of both these worlds won’t merge. Structural violence causes much of violence. While not condoning radical violence, an honest response to extremism therefore must begin by ameliorating the structural violence in the society.