Naxalism is a violent movement that claims to fight for the social and economic rights of Underprivileged groups who want to overthrow the Indian Government and replace it with a different regime.
Social, economic and developmental causes of Naxalism:
- Poverty amongst ST and Dalit e.g. The National Family health survey shows 45.9% of ST members are in the lowest wealth.
- Lack of access to Basic forest Resources –poor implementation of FRA 2006 and PESA 1996.
- Land Alienation and Displacement with little or no rehabilitation e.g. The Sardar Sarovar Project displaced 57% of tribal among total displaced people.
- Skewed Mining Policy.
- Labor, Unemployment and issue of Minimum Wages.
- Environmental Degradation.
Above cause leads to Discontent, Distrust and Alienation
Emerging issues:
- Organized Crime
- Illegal opium cultivation
- Coming together of different groups together
- Foreign contact ex:- Phillipines
Recent initiatives:
- SAMADHAN It is a strategy of MHA to frame short term and long-term policies to tackle LWE.
- Aspiration district programme with special emphasis on developmental needs to naxal areas.
What are the suggestions to check Naxalism?
- New Deal: Coloumbian Peace deal can provide blueprint for tackling Naxal Operation. This deal is based on few underlying provisions such as Comprehensive Rural Reform, Improving Citizen Participation.
- Perception Management: The tribal way of life should be celebrated aired on AIR.
- UNESCO advises for soft power augmentation with focus on-Education, Youth Empowerment. Gender Equality and Internet and Social Media.
- XAXA Committee:-
- Land Acquisition- G Sabha consent if forged, there should be Penalty.
- G Sabha:- Empower it to restore alienated land back to original owner ,even while a case is pending in the court.
- Mining:- It should be done by Tribal Cooperatives only as in Andhra.
Recently, As per MHA the geographical influence of Maoists has contracted to only 41 districts ifrom 96 such districts in 10 States shows govt taking steps in right direction.