New Delhi: Resolute implementation of the ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ to address the Maoist issue has resulted in a consistent decline of the Maoist insurgency both in terms of geographical spread and violence, informed the government in an official statement issued on Tuesday, February 11.
There has been a progressive decline in the number of Maoist affected districts as reflected in three reviews undertaken by the government in the last six years with reduction from 126 to 90 districts in April 2018, further to 70 in July 2021 and then to 38 in April 2024, added the statement.
The government further informed that the incident of violence perpetrated by the Maoists have reduced to 374 in 2024 in comparison to the all-time high figure of 1936 in 2010, reflecting a significant decline by 81 per cent. The resultant deaths of civilians and security Forces have also reduced by 85% to stand at 150 in 2024 from 1005 in the year 2010.
Maoist related violence reduced by 47 per cent in Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, violence perpetrated by Maoists has reduced by 47% in 2024 in comparison to the high levels of 2010.
Responding to a query in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said the state recorded 267 cases of Maoist related violence in 2024 as compared against 499 reported in 2010.
ERADICATION OF LEFT WING EXTREMISM
Resolute implementation of the ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ to Address Left Wing Extremism (LWE) both by the Centre and the States has resulted in a consistent decline in LWE both in terms of geographical spread and violence. There has… pic.twitter.com/KtvXL51Oe8
— PIB India (@PIB_India) February 11, 2025
He further informed that the resultant death of security forces and civilians have also reduced significantly during the same period. Rai said that the figures pertaining to civilians and security forces death in 2024 stands at 122 in compare to the all-time high of 343 in the year 2010, registering a dip of around 65 per cent.
Funds released under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme
Rai informed that the violence-ridden state has has received over 43 per cent (around Rs 830 crore) of the Rs 1925.83 crore released to all Maoist-affected states under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme during the last five years.
Notably, the Union Government under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme provide funds to Maoist-hit states for capacity building through provisions of ex-gratia to the family of civilian/Security Forces killed in LWE violence, training and operational needs of Security Forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres, community policing, and compensation to Security Force personnel/civilians for property damage by LWE etc.
Rai further stated that Rs. 85.42 crore has been released for strengthening of Special Forces, Special intelligence Branches (SIBs) and District through Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) for the state out of the total Rs 394.31 crore released for all the Maoist-affected states in the last five years.
He further highlighted that out of 702 Fortified Police Stations (FPSs) sanctioned for affected areas by the government 147 have been sanctioned for Chhattisgarh alone. A total of 612 FPS have already been constructed including 122 in Chhattisgarh.
Rai also underlined that the government has released a whopping Rs 2384.17 crore to insurgency-hit states under Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme to fill critical gapes in public infrastructure and services. He asserted that around Rs 774 crore was released for Chhattisgarh under the scheme in the last five years.
Focus on holistic development of Maoist-affected areas
While enlisting the initiatives undertaken by the government in Chhattisgarh Rai underscored that 4046 km roads have already been constructed in the violence hit areas while a total of 1333 mobile towers were commissioned in the state to improve telecom connectivity.
The minister said that 1214 Post Offices, 297 Bank Branches and 268 ATMs have been opened for financial inclusion of the local population in the Maoist affected districts. The government has also opened 9 ITIs, 14 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) along 45 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).
Tribal Youth Exchange Programs (TYEPs) are also being organized through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) for integration of tribal youth of LWE affected districts with National mainstream, he noted.
The minister further noted that Rs. 654.84 crore have been given to Central Agencies during the last 05 years for helicopters and addressing critical infrastructure in security camps in affected areas, under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEM) Scheme.
It is worth mentioning here that to address the Maoist issue holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan” approved in 2015. It envisages a multi- prolonged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuing rights and entitlements of local communities etc.
The Union Government under the plan has taken several specific initiatives in affected states, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, skilling and financial inclusion.
