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 that were 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 which focused on Whole of Government approach. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy  involving   security related  measures,  development  interventions,

ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc. The resolute implementation of this policy has led to eradication of Left Wing Extremism from the country.

After nearly six decades of violence, the country became free from the Left Wing Extremism, which was once considered one of the biggest threats to the Internal security of this country. This has been achieved with resolute implementation of the “National Policy and Action Plan to address Left-Wing Extremism” 2015 and the coordinated efforts of Centre and State governments. At present, no district in Chhattisgarh or any other State is LWE affected. Presently, 38 districts in the country (13 in Chhattisgarh) are categorized as ‘Legacy & Thrust’ districts, which are no more LWE affected, but continued support in respect of security and development measures is required for some more time to consolidate the position and to preclude any possibility of their relapse.

The Government’s focus on development in tribal and remote areas has addressed the root cause of Naxalism. Improved law and order situation, accompanied by investment in infrastructure has created an enabling environment for enhanced economic development including increase in public/private investment.

On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of the Government of India (Gol), several Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) specific initiatives have been taken with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development and financial inclusion in erstwhile LWE affected areas of Chhattisgarh. A few of these initiatives undertaken on development front in Chhattisgarh are enumerated below:

• For expansion of road network, 4,314 km road length has been constructed under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).  In addition to this, GoI has also approved 127.08 km critical roads and 06 critical bridges to be constructed by Border Road Organisation (BRO) in the erstwhile LWE affected areas of Chhattisgarh state.
• For improving telecom connectivity, 1511 towers have been commissioned.
• For Skill Development, 09 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 14 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been opened.
• For quality education in tribal areas, 45 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been made functional.
• For financial inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 1508 Post Offices with banking services. Also, 413 Bank Branches and 269 ATMs have been opened.
• To improve healthcare access in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, a 240-bed Super Specialty Hospital at Government Medical College, Jagdalpur, established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), has been made operational. With this facility healthcare services have now been brought closer to the people of Bastar, reducing the need for patients to travel to distant cities for treatment.
• For ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, 5,34,068 title deeds have been distributed to beneficiaries (4,81,432 individual titles and 52,636 community titles). To further strengthen local self-governance in erstwhile LWE affected areas including that of Chhattisgarh, the Ministry of Home Affairs is carrying out a joint planning with  the Ministry  of Panchayati  Raj. These  measures  reflect the Government’s commitment towards strengthening community rights and enhancing participatory governance in areas freed from LWE.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also conducted a survey in seven erstwhile LWE affected districts of Chhattisgarh to assess the extent of saturation of various government welfare schemes, developmental initiatives and the potential for livelihood generation through an independent agency. The survey has collated details of education levels, health indicators, and the availability of basic services such as primary schools, anganwadi centres, and secondary health facilities etc.  Insights from the survey are helping the Union Home Ministry and the State Government in fulfilling the objective of bridging the developmental gaps and ensuring livelihood.

To engage youth and local communities in a constructive manner, the GoI implements the Tribal Youth Exchange Programme (TYEP), under which tribal youths from erstwhile LWE affected areas including that of Chhattisgarh are taken on week-long exposure visits to different parts of the country. The Programme provides them an opportunity to interact with people from diverse regions and backgrounds, thereby promoting national integration, enhancing awareness of India’s rich cultural diversity, and providing exposure to the country’s industrial and developmental progress. Total 37,655 tribal youths have particapted in TYEP from erstwhile LWE affected states including Chhattisgarh since 2014.

Further, under the Civic Action Programme, GoI provides funds to CAPFs deployed in erstwhile LWE affected areas including that of Chhattisgarh for undertaking various welfare-oriented activities in their operational areas, including medical camps, sports competitions and distribution of essential items among local communities. This has immensely helped in bridging the gap between the security forces and the local population. Since 2014, a total of Rs. 221.88 crore funds have been released to CAPFs deployed in erstwhile LWE affected areas including that of Chhattisgarh under this scheme.

The GoI assists the erstwhile LWE affected State Governments on security front, by providing Central Armed Police Forces and raising of India Reserve Battalions, helicopter support, strengthening of security camp infrastructure, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc. 

• For capacity building of states since 2014-15, Rs. 3805.04 crore have been released to erstwhile LWE affected states on operational expenditure and training needs of Security Forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of martyred security force personnel/civilians  killed in LWE  violence etc. under  Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Rs.1453.95 crore has been released to Chhattisgarh State under SRE Scheme.
• The efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their police forces have been supplemented under the scheme of “Modernization of Police Forces”.  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. Under its sub scheme i.e. Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), works of Rs. 1761 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of State’s Special Forces, Special Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS), out of which Rs 451.2 crore has been sanctioned to Chhattisgarh. The GoI’s focus on security infrastructure has been pivotal. So far 663 fortified police stations have been built, out of which 135 have been built in Chhattisgarh. An amount of ₹ 110.34 crore (60% of Central Share) has been released to the State of Chhattisgarh under SIS-2017-21 & SIS 2022-26.
• Under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEMS)  Scheme,  assistance is  provided  for  basic  structure  of camps and for provisioning of helicopters for counter LWE operations. Rs1303.68 Crores has been provided to Central Agencies through this scheme since 2014-15.
• 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’. Since Financial Year 2017-18 to till now, approximately ₹1715.83 crores have been released to the Chhattisgarh state.
• There has been a special focus on the financial choking of LWEs and unearthing of the nexus between CPI (Maoists) and its financial supporters. Coordinated actions by State Police in cooperation with Central agencies by various means have paid great dividends in choking the funds and resources supplied to the Left Wing Extremists in the past.

To encourage LWEs to join the mainstream, GoI and State Governments have formulated comprehensive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies.  The GoI also supports the States in the endeavor through ‘Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation’ Policy as part of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.

The GoI reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of surrenderees under the SRE Scheme.  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.  Provision also exists for imparting training in trade/vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000/- for three years. States have also been encouraged to adopt attractive Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies.

In the post-LWE scenario, the focus of GoI is on facilitation of the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres, saturation of government welfare programmes, strengthening local self-governance, preservation of tribal identity and culture and expanding the reach of governance and public services in remote areas.

Further, following the eradication of LWE, one-third of the security camps in LWE-free areas are being converted into Jan Suvidha Kendras. These Kendras will provide a range of services, including livelihood promotion, skill development, access to government schemes, digital services, healthcare, and cultural and sports facilities to local communities. The first Jan Suvidha Kendra has been established at Netanar, Jagdalpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, as the Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Kendra.

Overall, GoI is committed for ensuring security and accelerated development of erstwhile LWE affected districts of the country.

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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RK/RR/PR/PS/SC

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