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 involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc.

In line with the policy and to give impetus to the development of the erstwhile most LWE affected districts funds are provided for filling critical gaps in  public  infrastructure under  ‘Special Central Assistance

 (SCA)  Scheme’.  Till  now,  approximately  ₹4282.96  crores  have been

released to the States since the inception of the Scheme in 2017.

In addition to this Scheme, 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 initiatives undertaken on development front are enumerated below:

• For expansion of road network, 15189 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 9497 towers have been commissioned.
• For Skill Development, 47 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 6,025 Post Offices with banking services in LWE affected districts. 1804 Bank Branches and 1321 ATMs have been opened in Most LWE affected districts.

As a result of resolute implementation of the policy entire country has been liberated from LWE. The consolidated gains achieved through sustained security and development efforts have created favorable environment for comprehensive socio - economic transformation of the regions that were affected by LWE for decades.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

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