Naxalism, which began with the 1967 Naxalbari uprising, grew into India’s most serious internal security challenge by exploiting land alienation, poverty, tribal marginalisation, governance deficit, and political exclusion.
Multi-Dimensional Roots of Naxalism:
Socio-Economic Drivers:
- Landlessness & failed land reforms in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and AP created fertile ground for radical mobilisation.
- Poverty & underdevelopment in forested belts lacking roads, health centres, teachers and banking access.
- Displacement without rehabilitation due to mining, dams and forest clearances.
- Poor service delivery in Scheduled Areas, corruption and rent-seeking.
Political Drivers:
- Weak implementation of Fifth Schedule, PESA (1996) and FRA (2006) curtailed tribal self-governance.
- Lack of representation and slow justice system encouraged parallel courts run by Maoists.
- Thin state presence, fear of reprisals, occasional police excesses and extortion networks reinforced alienation.
Role of Indian State in addressing these concerns:
Successes:
- Sharp Reduction in LWE Geography: LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 (2014) to 12 (2025); violence at all-time low.
- Effective Security Operations: Success of Greyhounds, CoBRA, Unified Command, SAMADHAN leading to major leadership neutralisation and mass surrenders.
- Strengthened State Presence: Expansion of roads, telecom, banking, police stations, and intensified administrative outreach in remote areas.
- Targeted Development Initiatives: Aspirational Districts, LWE Special Infrastructure Scheme, ROSHNI, FRA implementation improving livelihoods.
- Improved Intelligence: Better inter-state cooperation, tech-enabled surveillance, and community-police partnerships.
- Declining Ideological Base: Maoist appeal weakening due to exposure of internal brutality, disillusionment among cadres, and democratic mobilisation.
Issues Still Pending:
- Persistent Tribal Deprivation: Continued poverty, malnutrition, and lack of basic services in remote tribal belts.
- Land & Forest Rights Gaps: Slow FRA implementation, weak community forest rights, unresolved displacement from mining/projects.
- Governance Vacuum: Poor administrative presence, corruption, and weak delivery of justice in deep forest zones.
- Economic Inequality: Inequitable development, low non-farm jobs, and minimal market access.
- Ideological Appeal Not Fully Neutralised: Core grievances such as exploitation, exclusion, inequality still fuel latent Maoist sympathy.
Conclusion:
Focus should be on deepening rights-based development, tribal empowerment, local governance, and accountable policing, ensuring that the development and integration define the future of India’s forested heartland.
‘+1’ Value-Addition:
- LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 (2014) to 12 (2025) (MHA).
A 90% contraction in the geographical spread. - “Lon Varratu” Surrender Campaign: The Dantewada administration’s initiative led to 600+ Maoist surrenders (2019–23), including senior cadre.
- SAMADHAN Doctrine: A comprehensive approach combining Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation & training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based monitoring, Harnessing technology, and No-financing.
- Indravati Forest Operation (2025): Security forces neutralised 31 Maoists in a single coordinated operation, the largest Maoist loss in a decade.
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