The Prayatn

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: 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 Security strategy Promote local resistance groups on lines on ‘village defence committees’ in J&K Formation of specially trained special...

In May 2015, formers leaders of Salwa Judum formed Vikas Sangharsh Samiti in Dantewada of Chhattisgarh to carry forward the work of Salwa Judum in Bastar. i.e. to finish Maoism in Bastar and bring development. West Bengal being the centre of the movement initially, Naxalism spread to the lesser developed areas like  Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Senior Indian National Congress (INC) party leader  Mahendra Karma  launched the Salwa Judum in  2005  as a counterinsurgency measure to  tackle the Maoist threat. Salwa Judum meaning “ Peace March ” or “Purification Hunt” in Gondi language. It is a militia mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in  Chhattisgarh , aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the region. It was started as a people’s  resistance movement  against the Naxalites. The militia, consisting of ...

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Division This Division was created w.e.f. October 19, 2006 in the MHA to effectively address the Left Wing Extremist insurgency in a holistic manner. The LWE Division implements security related schemes aimed at capacity building in the LWE affected States. The Division also monitors the LWE situation and counter-measures being taken by the affected States. The LWE Division coordinates the implementation of various development schemes of the Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India in LWE affected States. The States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are considered LWE affected, although in varying degrees. Role and Functions of the Division  Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in LWE affected States. Reimbursing security related expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States under the Security Re...

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. Backward Regions Grants Fund- It is designed to redress regional imbalances in development . The fund will provide financial resources for supplementing and converging existing developmental inflows into 250 identified districts. This aims at filling local infrastructural gaps, strengthening local government institutions and building mechanisms for professional help to these local bodies. Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Areas) Act of 1996 (PESA)- This act (PESA) exempted scheduled areas (Schedule V) from certain provisions of 73 rd  amendment. It also modified certain other provisions. Through PESA certain powers are given to  gram sabha , which under 73 rd amendment might not ...