Maoism should be seen as a social and economic problem

Source: The post is based on the article “Maoism should be seen as a social and economic problem” published in the Indian Express on 8th May 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – Linkages between development and spread of extremism..

Relevance: About India’s anti-Naxal strategy.

News: Recently, the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district claimed the lives of ten police personnel and a civilian driver.

What is Left Wing Extremism?

About the Maoist evolution in independent India

The government had twice concluded that the Naxal problem had been sorted out.

The first time was after the arrest of Charu Majumdar in 1972 followed by his death and division in the party. But, the movement revived in 1980 with the formation of the People’s War Group.

The Maoism again disintegrated in the mid-nineties when Kondapalli Seetharamaiah was arrested and operations by the police and central paramilitary led to the arrests and surrender of almost 10,000 party activists.

But, the movement had another resurrection in 2001 when the Naxals formed the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). It aims to “seize political power”. In 2009, the then-Prime Minister described it as “the gravest internal security threat to our country” and took steps to control it. Since then the movement has been on a decline with considerable attrition.

According to the Home Ministry’s data, fatalities inflicted on civilians and security forces by left-wing extremists fell below 100 in 2022, the lowest in four decades.

What are the anti-Naxal strategies followed by governments?

What are the flaws in India’s anti-Naxal strategy?

There are few fundamental flaws in India’s anti-Naxal strategy.

Firstly, in most states, there is a tendency to outsource the operations against Naxals to the central armed police forces. The states must use the local police, who know the language and terrain, in anti-Naxal operations to address the issues altogether.

For example, in Punjab, the battle against terrorism has been won because, apart from other factors, the Punjab Police was always at the forefront of operations.

Secondly, according to an expert group of the Planning Commission recommendation in 2008, “the development paradigm pursued since independence has always been ‘imposed’ on the tribal communities and has been insensitive to their needs and concerns”.

For example, when the tribals want schools and hospitals, the government focuses on capital-intensive plants or factories, which are inevitably accompanied by deforestation and displacement.

As a result, government plans have “ended up in destroying their social organisation, cultural identity, and resource base and generated multiple conflicts.”

Thirdly, there is no overall strategic plan against the Naxals. States have been carrying out anti-Naxal drives according to their individual understanding.

How India should revamp its anti-Naxal strategy?

The Maoist problem is multi-dimensional; it has social and economic aspects. The security forces can take care of the law and order aspect of the problem. Unless the problem is tackled in its entirety, it is unlikely to go away.

-Security forces’ territorial domination should be followed by the administrative apparatus establishing its network in the affected areas.

-The government should make conscious efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people.

–Pursue dialogue: If the government can have peace talks with the Nagas and several other insurgent outfits in the Northeast, then the government should follow similar approach with Maoist leadership.