Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Home Affairs addressed concerns regarding Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India, highlighting the government's multi-pronged strategy initiated in 2015. This strategy includes security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights for local communities. The response details financial support to LWE-affected states, infrastructure development, and efforts to encourage surrender and rehabilitation of extremists. The document also notes a measurable decline in LWE-related incidents and affected areas, including in Jharkhand.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Policy and Action Plan:
- A National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE was approved in 2015, employing a multi-pronged strategy.
- The strategy encompasses security measures, development interventions, and ensuring local communities' rights.
Security Measures:
- The Central Government supports LWE-affected states by providing Central Armed Police Forces, training, and funds for modernization.
- Support includes equipment, arms, intelligence sharing, and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS).
- Since 2014-15, Rs. 3357 crore has been released to LWE affected states under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Of this, Jharkhand received Rs. 830.75 crore.
- Works of Rs. 1740 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of States Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police and Construction of 71 Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS). Of this, Jharkhand received Rs. 439.45 crore.
Development Initiatives:
- Focus on expanding road networks, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development, and financial inclusion.
- 17,589 km of roads have been sanctioned under LWE-specific schemes (RRP and RCPLWEA), with 14,902 km constructed. Jharkhand's share is 3,168 km sanctioned and 2925 km constructed.
- 10,644 mobile towers are planned, with 8,640 commissioned. Jharkhand's share is 1755 planned and 1589 commissioned.
- 48 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 61 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been approved. 46 ITIs and 49 SDCs are functional in Jharkhand, respectively.
- 258 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are sanctioned, with 179 functional. Jharkhand has 47 functional EMRS.
- 5899 Post Offices with banking services and 1007 Bank Branches and 937 ATMs have been opened in LWE affected districts. Jharkhand has 1240 Post Offices, 349 Bank Branches and 352 ATMs.
- Rs. 3,769 crore has been released under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme since 2017 for critical infrastructure gaps. Jharkhand received Rs. 1439.33 crore.
Surrender and Rehabilitation:
- States have their own Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies, supported by the Central Government.
- Rehabilitation includes grants (Rs. 5 lakhs for higher-ranked, Rs. 2.5 lakhs for others), incentives for weapon surrender, and vocational training with a Rs. 10,000 monthly stipend for three years.
Decline in LWE:
- LWE-related violence and deaths have significantly decreased since 2010.
- LWE-affected districts have reduced from 126 in 2013 to 18 in April 2025.
Jharkhand-Specific Data:
- LWE incidents in Jharkhand decreased from 742 in 2009 to 69 in 2024.
- From January 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025, 103 incidents were reported, with 25 LWE cadres neutralized, 276 arrested, and 32 surrendered.
- LWE-affected districts in Jharkhand reduced from 21 in 2013 to 2 in 2025; 7 districts are categorized as Legacy Thrust Districts.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments (LWE-Affected):
Impact: Benefit from Central Government support, including funding, security forces, and development initiatives, to combat LWE.
Action Required: Implement national policies, coordinate with central forces, utilize funds effectively, and develop attractive surrender policies.
Local Communities (LWE-Affected Regions):
Impact: Improved security, infrastructure development (roads, telecom), access to education, skill development, and financial inclusion.
Action Required: Engage with government initiatives, participate in development programs, and report suspicious activities to authorities.
LWE Cadres:
Impact: Opportunity to surrender and rehabilitate into mainstream society with financial assistance, vocational training, and support.
Action Required: Consider surrendering under state policies, participate in rehabilitation programs, and acquire new skills for employment.
Security Forces:
Impact: Enhanced resources, training, and infrastructure to combat LWE effectively.
Action Required: Coordinate with state police, conduct operations in LWE-affected areas, and protect civilians.
Key Entities Referenced
Left Wing Extremism: A political ideology and movement that seeks to bring about radical change through violent means, often associated with Maoist or Naxalite groups in India.
Jharkhand: A state in eastern India, significantly affected by Left Wing Extremism.
National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE: A comprehensive strategy approved in 2015 by the Government of India to tackle the Left Wing Extremism problem through security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights for local communities.
Central Armed Police Forces: Security forces provided by the Government of India to assist LWE-affected State Governments in maintaining law and order.
Security Related Expenditure (SRE): A scheme under which the Government of India provides funds to LWE affected states for operational expenditure of forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, and ex-gratia payments.
Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS): A scheme to strengthen State Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches, District Police and Construction of Fortified Police Stations FPS in LWE affected states.
Road Requirement Plan (RRP): One of the LWE specific schemes for expansion of road network in LWE affected areas.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Schools sanctioned for providing quality education in tribal areas affected by LWE.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1438
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
DECLINE IN LEFT-WING EXTREMISM
1438. SHRI DULU MAHATO:
SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:
SHRI CHHATRAPAL SINGH GANGWAR:
DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
SHRI KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH:
SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:
SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
DR. HEMANG JOSHI:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether any measurable decline in Left-Wing Extremism(LWE) related
incidents have been observed during the recent years;
(b) whether any specific steps have been taken to encourage the
surrender and rehabilitation of former extremists/militants;
(c) whether coordination with State Governments has led to improved
outcomes in LWE-affected regions;
(d) if so, details of the key objectives achieved;
(e) whether any resurgence in Left-Wing Extremists activities has been
observed in Jharkhand during the current or previous financial year; and
(f) whether Jharkhand has received any targeted support under national
anti-LWE schemes to prevent escalation and strengthen local
enforcement capacity?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1438 FOR 29.07.2025
(a to f):
• 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 problem
holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE” was
approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving
security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights
and entitlements of local communities etc.
• On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State
Government by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions,
training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment &
arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations
etc;
Since 2014-15,
- Rs.3357 crore (Jharkhand - Rs. 830.75 crore) have been released to
LWE affected states, for operational expenditure of 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.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1438 FOR 29.07.2025
- Works of Rs. 1740 crore (Rs. 439.45 crore – Jharkhand) have been
sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of State’s
Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police
and Construction of 71 Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special
Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
• 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:
- For expansion of road network, 17,589 km (Jharkhand – 3,168
km) have been sanctioned under 02 LWE specific schemes
namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity
Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). Of these, 14,902 km,
(including 2925 km in Jharkhand), have been constructed.
- For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas,
10,644 mobile towers (Jharkhand - 1755) have been planned, of
which 8,640 towers, (including 1589 Towers in Jharkhand), have
been commissioned.-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1438 FOR 29.07.2025
- For Skill Development, 48 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and
61 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been approved. Of
these, 46 ITI (Jharkhand – 16) and 49 SDCs (Jharkhand – 20) are
functional.
- For quality education in tribal areas 258 Eklavya Model
Residential Schools (EMRS) are sanctioned, of which 179 EMRS
(Jharkhand - 47) are functional.
- For Financial Inclusion, department of Posts has opened 5899
Post Offices (Jharkhand - 1240 ) with banking services in LWE
affected districts. 1007 Bank Branches (Jharkhand - 349) & 937
ATMs (Jharkhand - 352) 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 crore have been released since the inception of
Scheme in 2017. Of this, Rs. 1439.33 crore has been released to
Jharkhand.-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1438 FOR 29.07.2025
• To encourage Left Wing Extremists to join the mainstream, States
have their own Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies. GoI also
support the States in the endeavour through ‘Surrender-cum-
Rehabilitation’ Policy and reimburses the expenditure incurred by
the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of surrendered cadre. The
rehabilitation package inter-alia, includes an immediate grant of Rs.
5 lakhs for higher ranked LWE cadres and Rs.2.5 lakhs for other LWE
cadres. In addition, incentives for surrender of weapons/ ammunition
are also provided under the Scheme. In addition, provision also
exists for imparting training in trade/ vocation of their liking with
monthly stipend of Rs. 10000/- for three years. States have also been
encouraged to adopt attractive Surrender cum Rehabilitation
policies.
• The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent
decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. 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.-6-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1438 FOR 29.07.2025
• As regards to Jharkhand, there has been considerable improvement
in LWE scenario. The number of LWE perpetrated violent incidents
in Jharkhand reduced by 92% from a high of 742 incidents in 2009 to
69 incidents in 2024. From 1st January, 2024 to 15th July, 2025, 103
LWE related violent incidents were reported in Jharkhand in which
25 LWE cadres were neutralized, 276 were arrested and 32
surrendered. The LWE affected districts in Jharkhand have also
reduced from 21 in 2013 to only 02 in 2025. However, 07 districts are
categorized as Legacy & Thrust Districts, for continued support to
the districts taken out of LWE influence.
• Improved law & order and security situation, accompanied by
investment in infrastructure has created an enabling environment for
enhanced socio-economic development.
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