The government’s steps to Counter LWE include restoration in governance, security, ideology, and public infrastructure. These comprise the deployment of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) and CAPFs ( Central Armed Police Forces). Initiatives like compensation of safety-related payment and filling up critical infrastructure gaps is helpful to tackle LWE. The employment of tribal youth in society policing, promoting inter-state coordination, and social action programs are some steps towards tackling LWE.

Government’s steps to Counter LWE 

The government’s steps to counter LWE are as follows:

Social Economic Development

The Central Government has approved funds for development initiatives aimed at combating Left Wing Extremism at the social and economic sectors.

The government launched the Backward Districts project and the Backward Regions Grant Fund in 2003-2004. (BRGF). The BRGF project has encompassed around 250 regions in order to accelerate socio – economic growth in these regions.

Infrastructure Development

• The government has created a number of initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), which provides significant benefits for rural road connection.
• To offer employment opportunities and build infrastructure, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) is being implemented in 330 regions afflicted by Left Wing Extremism.
• The LWE mobile tower project aims to improve mobile connectivity in the LWE affected area.

Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) for LWE affected areas

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry enforced this project to enhance road connectivity in 34 LWE affected 8 States in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. This scheme envisages the construction of roads of 5,422 km lengths in LWE affected regions, of which around 4,868 km roads have been finished by November 30 2019.

Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RRP-II):

This project further enriches the connectivity of roads in 44 areas of 9 LWE disturbed Governments. The Ministry of Rural Development is the focal Ministry for this program. The Home Ministry has recognized the roads under this program in conferences with the different State Governments and the security agencies. Around 1373 km. Roads have been constructed so far till December 31 2019. 

Law and Order Strategy:

• The administration has initiated a Police Modernization Scheme in areas implicated by Naxal movements.
• Central Para Military Forces have been deployed on a long-term basis by the administration to assist the state governments in combating the Naxals.
• States have also organised their special security force like Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhounds to handle the Naxal crisis.

Surrender Cum Rehabilitation Scheme

Since January 1, 1998, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been conducting a plan for Surrender-cum Rehabilitation of militants in the North East to disassociate the misled young and committed militants who slip into the embrace of militancy and subsequently find themselves entangled in that web. The Scheme also aims to guarantee that former militants who have surrendered do not find it appealing to return to insurgency. The highlights of the scheme are as follows:

• An instant award of Rs. 4 lakhs in the form of a fixed deposit, held for three years. The person can use this money to start a business or avail loan for self-employment.
• The person would receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000 for a period of three years.
• Bonus rewards are given to those who even surrender arms or weapons.
• The government also offers training and vocational courses to enhance the skill of individuals for self-employment.
• The regional government receives funds from the central government to form rehab centres and carry out rehabilitation activities.

Operation Green Hunt:

Operation Green Hunt is said to have begun in 2009 along five states in the Red Corridor as the government’s aim to remove maoists from India, as per the media reports. However, the Indian government does not recognise any “Operation Green Hunt” to characterise its anti-Naxalite offensive. Chhattisgarh police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) started an offensive against the Maoists in 2009. From 223 areas that were influenced because of Naxalite actions in the year 2010, the number lessened to 90 in 2019.

Conclusion

The government needs to take much better steps to enhance intelligence sharing and improve coordination between the various agencies concerned. The government also needs to gain the people’s trust and make the locals aware of the individuals who have surrendered and done well. Further, a philosophy based on riot and obliteration is convicted of collapsing in a democracy that offers legal forums of injustice redressal.