Naxalism

 Syllabus: Naxalism, Internal security

 Source: TH

 Context:  Recently security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region engaged in a significant gunfight with Naxalites, resulting in the death of 28 insurgents. This marks one of the highest casualty tolls in recent anti-Naxal operations.

About Naxalism:

• Origins in Naxalbari: The Naxalite movement began in 1967 in Naxalbari village, West Bengal, when peasants led an uprising against local landlords over land disputes.
• Maoist Ideology: The movement was inspired by Maoist political ideology, advocating armed rebellion to overthrow the state and redistribute land and resources to oppressed communities.
• Spread to Tribal Regions: Naxalism gradually spread to underdeveloped and tribal areas, particularly in states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
• Objective: The Naxalites aimed to challenge the Indian state through armed insurgency, focusing on the redistribution of land, wealth, and resources to marginalized and tribal communities.
• Red Corridor Zones
  • The Red Corridor refers to areas significantly affected by Naxalite-Maoist insurgency. It includes regions in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Telangana.

Reasons for Naxalism’s growth:

• Tribal displacement: Massive displacement due to development projects and mining activities has fueled discontent among tribal populations, making them vulnerable to Maoist influence.
• Socio-economic gaps: Poverty, lack of education, and absence of government welfare programs in tribal and rural areas have deepened grievances.
• State negligence: Lack of infrastructural development, poor connectivity, and weak governance in the Red Corridor have created vacuums that Maoists exploit.
• Forest rights: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 restricts access to forest produce, further alienating forest-dependent communities.
• Government focus on security: The government’s emphasis on security measures rather than addressing underlying socio-economic issues has left many grievances unresolved.

 Steps taken by the government:

Legal measures:

1. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): Declares Naxalite groups as terrorist organizations and enables swift action against them.
2. Relief and Rehabilitation Policy: Encourages Naxalites to surrender and join the mainstream by offering rehabilitation packages.
3. Forest Rights Act, 2006: Aims to restore land rights to tribal communities, addressing one of the root causes of insurgency.

Military measures:

1. Operation Green Hunt: Launched in 2010, this large-scale counter-insurgency operation has significantly reduced Naxal activities.
2. Greyhounds force: Special forces unit in Andhra Pradesh trained for guerrilla warfare against Naxalites.
3. Coordination with state forces: Increased cooperation between central paramilitary forces and state police, improving intelligence and response.

Developmental measures:

1. Aspirational Districts Programme: Targets underdeveloped regions, including those affected by Naxalism, to enhance healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
2. Skill development programs: Initiatives to train the tribal youth in vocational skills and reduce their dependency on Naxalite ideologies.
3. Infrastructure development: Road and telecom connectivity projects have been launched in remote areas, enhancing access to basic services and governance.

Way ahead

1. Addressing socio-economic grievances: Focus on addressing root causes such as land disputes, tribal rights, and poverty through inclusive policies.
2. Enhanced intelligence: Improve real-time intelligence gathering and collaboration between state and central forces.
3. Sustained development: Ensure the long-term implementation of development schemes and socio-economic programs.

Conclusion:

To comprehensively address Naxalism, India must balance military actions with efforts to improve tribal livelihoods and ensure access to “Jal, Jangal, Zameen”, the fundamental demands of tribal populations.

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