Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Left Wing Extremism (LWE), commonly known as Naxalism or Maoism in India, is a significant internal security challenge. Rooted in the Naxalbari uprising of 1967 in West Bengal, it refers to violent insurgencies by groups advocating for radical socio-political change through revolutionary means, often exploiting socio-economic inequalities and governance gaps. The Union Home Minister recently announced the ambitious target of eliminating LWE by March 2026, signaling the government's renewed resolve and a significant decline in its geographical spread and intensity. This goal underscores the need to understand its nature, impact, and the strategies deployed to combat it.
Understanding Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
LWE encompasses groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist) that aim to overthrow the democratic state through armed struggle. Their ideology is derived from Mao Zedong's teachings, emphasizing guerrilla warfare and the establishment of a "new democratic revolution." These movements thrive in remote, underdeveloped, and tribal regions, often exploiting grievances related to land disputes, forest rights, displacement, and lack of basic amenities.
Impact on People
The populace in LWE-affected regions bears the brunt of the conflict, experiencing severe social, economic, and psychological consequences:
- Loss of Life and Livelihood: Civilians and security forces are frequently targeted, leading to deaths, injuries, and displacement. LWE groups often brand tribals as 'police informers' before torturing and killing them. Between 2004 and March 2025, 8,895 people have been killed by LWE, with a majority being tribals and economically underprivileged sections.
- Disruption of Development: LWE activities hinder the implementation of government development projects, including roads, schools, and health facilities, exacerbating poverty and underdevelopment. They often destroy public infrastructure like mobile towers and railway tracks.
- Fear and Insecurity: The constant threat of violence, extortions, abductions, and kangaroo courts (Jan Adalats) creates an atmosphere of fear, impacting daily life and civic participation. People are often prevented from voting during elections.
- Governance Vacuum: LWE exploits the absence of state administration and public services, creating a parallel governance structure and eroding faith in democratic institutions.
- Forced Recruitment: Vulnerable youth, often with low literacy and limited employment opportunities, are coerced or lured into joining extremist ranks.
Government Measures to Eliminate LWE
The Government of India adopted a multi-pronged strategy to combat LWE, notably the National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE, 2015. This comprehensive approach combines security-related measures, development interventions, and safeguarding the rights and entitlements of local communities. Key initiatives include:
1. Security Measures
- Enhanced Security Operations: Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like CRPF and specialized units such as CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action). Operations like 'Operation Green Hunt' have been instrumental in neutralizing Maoist presence.
- Capacity Building: Providing funds for modernization of state police forces, advanced weapons, training, and equipment. This includes the construction of fortified police stations.
- Intelligence Gathering: Strengthening intelligence networks and inter-state coordination to monitor Maoist movements and choke their funding sources.
- Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy: Offering financial aid, vocational training, and social reintegration programs for surrendered Naxals to facilitate their return to mainstream society.
2. Development Interventions
- Infrastructure Development: Projects like the Road Connectivity Project for LWE-Affected Areas (RCPLWE) under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana II to improve road networks (14,469 km roads constructed so far) and the installation of mobile towers (6,567 commissioned) to enhance communication.
- Socio-Economic Development: Schemes focused on improving socio-economic conditions, including skill development centers (46 ITIs and 49 SDCs made functional), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (178 functional) for quality education, and employment opportunities for rural youth in LWE-affected districts (e.g., ROSHNI Scheme).
- Special Central Assistance (SCA): Providing additional funding for public infrastructure and services in LWE-affected districts to address critical gaps.
- Aspirational Districts Programme (2018): Targeting underdeveloped districts, many of which are LWE-affected, to bring about rapid socio-economic transformation.
3. Protecting Community Rights and Perception Management
- Ensuring Rights and Entitlements: Focusing on safeguarding the rights of tribal communities, particularly land and forest rights, to address the root causes of grievances exploited by LWE. The D. Bandopadhyay Committee (2006) emphasized tribal-friendly land acquisition.
- Civic Action Programme: CAPFs undertake various civic activities for the welfare of local people to win their trust and wean youth away from Maoist influence.
- Media Plan: Countering false propaganda by Maoists through tribal youth exchange programs, radio jingles, and documentaries to promote the democratic setup.
Conclusion
The persistent efforts of the government have led to a significant decline in LWE violence and its geographical spread, with the number of LWE-affected districts reducing drastically. The comprehensive strategy, encompassing robust security measures, focused developmental interventions, and initiatives to protect community rights and address grievances, is critical. Achieving the target of LWE elimination by March 2026 requires sustained commitment, enhanced inter-state coordination, continuous intelligence-based operations, and equitable development that truly empowers the marginalized. This integrated approach is vital to establish enduring peace and prosperity in areas long afflicted by extremism.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.