Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3886 regarding Naxalism, its impact on tribal areas, and the government's efforts to address it. The response details the Government of India's multi-pronged strategy involving security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights and entitlements. It also highlights the achievements in curbing Naxal activity and providing basic amenities in affected areas since 2014.
Key Points / Main Content:
Naxalism and its Impact:
* Left Wing Extremists (LWE) use violence to capture state power, disproportionately impacting poor, marginalized tribal populations.
* LWE violence leads to backwardness, security concerns, poverty, low literacy, poor health, and lack of infrastructure in affected areas.
Government Strategy and Assistance:
* The Government of India supplements state efforts through a National Policy and Action Plan approved in 2015, using a multi-pronged strategy.
* Security support includes providing Central Armed Police Forces, India Reserve Battalions, helicopter support, training, funds for modernization, equipment, intelligence sharing, and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS).
* Since 2014-15, ₹3364.32 crore have been released to LWE affected states for operational expenditure, training, rehabilitation and ex-gratia payments.
* ₹1740 crore have been sanctioned for strengthening State Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police, and construction of FPS under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS); 621 FPS have been constructed, with 543 since 2014.
Development Initiatives:
* Government initiatives focus on expanding road networks, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development, and financial inclusion.
* 14,928 km of roads have been constructed under LWE specific schemes (RRP and RCPLWEA).
* 8,640 telecom towers have been commissioned in LWE affected areas.
* 46 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) and 49 Skill Development Centers (SDC) have been opened.
* 179 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are functional.
* 5899 Post Offices with banking services, 1007 bank branches and 937 ATMs have been opened in LWE affected districts.
* ₹3,769.44 crore have been released since 2017 under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme for infrastructure gaps.
Progress and Results:
* Implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan 2015 has resulted in a decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread of LWE.
* LWE related violence incidents and deaths have decreased significantly since 2010.
* LWE affected districts have reduced from 126 in 2013 to 18 in April 2025.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for police and public order; receive support from the central government to combat LWE.
* Action Required: Implement the National Policy and Action Plan, utilize central assistance effectively, and coordinate with central forces.
Tribal Populations in LWE Affected Areas:
* Impact: Directly affected by LWE violence; beneficiaries of development initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, education, and economic opportunities.
* Action Required: Engage with government programs and security forces to report LWE activities and participate in development initiatives.
Central Armed Police Forces:
* Impact: Deployed in LWE affected areas to maintain security and assist state police.
* Action Required: Coordinate with state police, conduct operations against LWE, and protect civilians.
Ministry of Home Affairs:
* Impact: Responsible for formulating policies, allocating resources, and coordinating efforts to address LWE.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor the LWE situation, provide necessary support to state governments, and refine strategies as needed.
Key Entities Referenced
Naxalism: A form of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) prevalent in certain parts of India, often associated with Maoist ideologies and violent activities.
Left Wing Extremism: A political ideology and movement that seeks to bring about radical socio-political changes through violent means, often associated with Maoist groups in India.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which defines the framework of political principles, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens.
National Policy and Action Plan 2015: A comprehensive policy framework formulated by the Government of India in 2015 to address the issue of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) through a multi-pronged approach involving security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities.
Central Armed Police Forces: Uniformed units that are used to enhance the state police in maintaining law and order and internal security.
Security Related Expenditure: A scheme by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to LWE affected states for operational expenditure of forces, training, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre and exgratia payments.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Schools established by the Government of India to provide quality education to tribal children in remote areas.
Chhattisgarh: A state in Central India significantly affected by LWE.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3886
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 21, 1947 (SAKA)
CURBING NAXALISM
3886. DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Naxalism is the biggest hurdle in the development of tribal
areas and an enemy of humanity as a whole;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to eliminate the Naxal activity
from the tribal areas including details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether due to Naxalism, more than 8 crore people have been deprived
of basic amenities which constitutes a major violation of human rights; and
(d) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to provide safety,
security and basic amenities to Naxal affected areas and if not, the
reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table.
(i) The Left Wing Extremists perpetrate violence and kill innocent
civilians and Security Forces as they believe in violence as the
means to capture State power. In past few decades, this has
resulted in spiraling cycle of violence in some parts of the country.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
The poor and marginalized sections of the society especially the
tribals have borne the brunt of this violence as majority of civilians
killed by Left Wing Extremists are tribals, often branded as ‘Police
Informers’ before being brutally tortured and killed. Ironically, it is
the same tribals and the economically underprivileged sections,
whose cause the Maoists claim to espouse have been the biggest
victims of the so called ‘protected peoples war’ of the Left Wing
Extremists against the Indian State. The LWE affected areas are
marred by dual challenges of a vicious circle of backwardness and
the security concerns arising out of LWE influence. Poverty, low
levels of literacy, poor health standards, lack of infrastructure and
connectivity are all manifestations of LWE violence.
(ii) As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects
of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However,
the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of
States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE
menace holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address
LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
involving security related measures, development interventions,
ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc.
(iii) On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State
Government by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions and
sanctioning of India Reserve Battalions, helicopter support,
strengthening of camp infrastructure, training, funds for
modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of
intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc.
- Since 2014-15,
For capacity building of states, Rs.3364.32 crore have been
released to LWE affected states, for operational expenditure of
forces, expenditure incurred on training State Police Forces,
rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of
civilians killed in LWE violence/martyred security force personnel
etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Works of
Rs. 1740 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for
strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
Branches (SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified
Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
- 621 Fortified Police Stations have been constructed in LWE
affected states, of which 543 have been constructed since 2014.
(iv) The efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their
police forces have been supplemented under the scheme of
“Assistance to States & UTs for Modernization of Police”. Under the
scheme, central assistance is provided to the State Governments for
weapons, equipment for Information Technology, Communication,
Training, construction of Police stations, mobility and construction of
police housing and other police infrastructure etc.
(v) On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of
Government of India (GoI), several LWE affected areas specific
initiatives have been taken with special thrust on expansion of road
network, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill
development and financial inclusion. A few of these are enumerated
below:-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
- For expansion of road network, 14,928 km have been
constructed under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road
Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE
Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).
- For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas 8,640
towers have been commissioned.
- For Skill Development, 46 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and
49 Skill Development Centres (SDC) have been opened.
- For quality education in tribal areas 179 Eklavya Model
Residential Schools (EMRS) have been made functional.
- For financial inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 5899
Post Offices with banking services in LWE affected districts. 1007
Bank Branches & 937 ATMs have been opened in Most LWE affected
districts.
- For further impetus to development, funds are provided for
filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in Most LWE affected
Districts under Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now,
Rs. 3,769.44 crore have been released since the inception of Scheme
in 2017. State-wise developmental achievements in LWE affected
areas since 2014 are attached as Annexure.-6-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
(vi) The resolute implementation of the National Policy and Action
Plan 2015 has resulted in consistent decline in violence and
constriction of geographical spread. LWE which has been a serious
challenge to the internal security of the nation has been significantly
curbed in the recent times and has been constricted to only a few
pockets. The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths of
civilians & Security Forces, have come down from high of 2010 by
81% and 85% respectively in 2024. There has also been a sharp
decline in LWE affected districts from 126 in 2013 to 18 districts in
April 2025.
*****ANNEXURE
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3886 FOR 12.08.2025
DEVELOPMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN LWE AFFECTED STATES SINCE 2014
STATE ROAD MOBILE EMRSS ITI SDC BANKING TOUCH POINTS IN MOST LWE
CONSTRUCTED TOWERS SANCTIONED FUNCTIONAL FUNCTIONAL POST AFFECTED DISTRICTS
( IN KM) COMMISSIONED OFFICES
BANK ATMs Bank
BRANCHES CORRESPONDENTS
AP 1184 1507 22 01 - 320 - 30 257
BH 1868 363 03 08 - 264 171 38 7874
CG 3535 1420 36 09 14 1382 297 268 5044
JH 2600 1589 73 16 20 1240 349 352 21357
KER - 83 01 - - - - - -
MP 244 162 08 01 02 568 - - -
MH 720 600 07 02 - 845 82 25 704
OD 792 2421 59 06 10 541 66 93 1481
TEL 566 319 11 - 02 514 150 131 1133
UP 503 78 - 01 01 224 - - -
WB - 98 - 01 - 01 - - -
TOTAL 12012 8640 220 45 49 5899 1115 937 37,850
*****