Naxalite Revolt: Biggest Threat to Indias Development?

A Raghu (PGP/15/261) Abhishek Bhalotia (PGP/15/263) Nikhil Motiwala (PGP/15/310) Mudaliar Ravin Mohan (PGP/15/292) Divesh Ranjan (PGP/15/275) Kumar Gaurav (PGP/15/286)
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The Red Corridors

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The Naxalites operate in 60 districts: Orissa(15 districts) Jharkhand(14 districts) Bihar(7 Districts) Andhra Pradesh(10 Districts) Chhattisgarh(10 Districts) Madhya Pradesh(8 districts) Maharashtra(2 districts) West Bengal(1 district) The Red Terror| Indian Economy Chhattisgarh is the 3/18/2012 epicenter of Maoist

The Justice for All Beginnings

Groups of people with far-left ideology, who resort to violent measures to overthrow the so-called bourgeois rule and establish their own control over the state

Started in 1967 with a violent uprising in Naxalbari, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal by a section of CPI (M) against the feudal landlords Declaration of an armed struggle to redistribute land to the landless The revolution succeeded with the people of the village successfully ambushing the police force who came in support of landlords

Evolution of Naxalism

1990s Discrete violent activities 1980s Spread to other states 1970s Fragmentation
Recruited students in West Bengal Opposition against rejection line Death of Majumdar Formation of Peoples War Group in AP Gained confidence of displaced tribals and natives Merger of Peoples War Group with CPI (ML) Bhumihar Brahmins killed in Bihar

2000s Rise of Naxals

Formation of CPIMaoist Increase in violent activities Formation of IAP to counter Naxals

1960sOrigin
Violent uprising in Naxalbari Split of CPI (M)

Factors that have led to Naxalite Movement

Started as a minor clash between police force and peasants

The Naxalists movement was led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal initiated a violent uprising in 1967

Trust deficit between tribal communities and civil administration

Tribals have been deprived of the basic necessities and have a feeling of being totally excluded

Urgent and long-festering socioeconomic concerns of the weaker sections (Naxal groups)

Mao Zedong Thought

Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary, guerilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese revolution which led to the establishment of Peoples Republic of China

His theoretical contribution to Marxism-Leninism, along with his military strategies and brand of policies, are collectively known as Maoism.
He enacted sweeping land reform by using violence and terror to overthrow landlords before seizing their large estates and dividing the land into people's communes Charu Majumdar (Member, CPI (M)) inspired by this very revolutionary tactics, provided the ideological support and guidance to the Naxal movements

Naxalism and Maoism: Thickening of Thin Line

The tactics and strategies applied during initial Naxal movements were indeed inspired by Mao Zedong thought, but over years, the association has weakened Individual annihilation killing of the main sources of misery such as landlords has evolved into killing all those who are known to have a certain political affiliation i.e. by the name of the party one belongs to At times, the killings also happen due to wrong identification of targets as class enemies instead of personal enemies

Naxalism and Maoism: Thickening of Thin Line

More and more recruitment of local village youth, who are uneducated has led to the dilution of the purpose with which Naxalism was started The focus is more on killing and looting state property than on establishing equity in society, which was the original goal Hence, Naxalism can no more be associated with Mao Zedong thought, though in common parlance, Naxalism and Maoism are still used interchangeably

Annihilation Line

A dictum to assassinate individual class enemies Charu Majumdar was the main proponent Naxalites took over Jadavpur University with Presidency College as their headquarters Attack on police with pipe guns Police resorted with illegal incarceration of Naxalites Revolt failed and lost support due to heavy losses Majumdar was arrested and eventually he died

Source of Naxalites resources

Extortion Protection money charged from the rich class landlords, industrialists and traders to keep them protected Trade in timber and other forest produce Cultivation and sale of marijuana Collected Rs. 10 billion in 2007 through illegal taxation and forced donations from traders, forest, and public works contractors and even industrialists

Who is responsible?
Industries Exploitation of natural resources on which local tribes depend Inability to provide employment to the outcast tribes Government Socio-economic inequality and very less development Failed to address the needs of tribal communities Society Tribal people are excluded from the society Lack of co-operation leading to under-development Naxalites Adoption of violent activities to make their voices heard Casualties of innocent people

Governments (Double) Standards

Each time government needed to displace a large population for dams, irrigation projects, mines, it talked of bringing tribal into the mainstream or of giving them the fruits of modern development. When the government begins to talk of tribal welfare, its time to worry In April 05, the Chhattisgarh government signed two MoUs for steel plants. The same month, the PM called Maoists the gravest security threat.

Why the War?

Once know as Robin Hood figures, these Maoists claim to represent the out casted and the dispossessed of our society, especially the tribal groups who suffer some of the countrys highest rates of poverty, illiteracy and infant mortality Over the past six years or so, the governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal have signed hundreds of MoUs with corporate houses, worth several billion dollars, all of them secret, for steel plants, sponge-iron factories, power plants, aluminum refineries, dams and mines. In order for the MoUs to translate into real money, tribal people must be moved therefore, this war

Is Violence Last Means?

Fearing the Maoist, the state has mobilized Para-military groups to fight the Naxalites
Ranvir

Sena, rule in Bihar and Jharkhand Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh

So with such groups terrorizing the tribal people, the question is that, is government actually giving them any choice ?

Salwa Judum: Purification Hunt

Salwa Judum refers to a militia in Chhatisgarh which is aimed at countering the naxalite movement

The militia consisting of local tribal youth receives support and training from the government

The use of Salwa Judum is termed as human rights violation and poorly trained uneducated youth for counter-insurgency roles.

With a successful initial counter-strikes on Naxalite hideouts, the process was encouraged

However, various issue like child militants and human rights violation erupted .

If I was a person who is being dispossessed, whose wife has been raped, who is being pushed of their land and who is being faced with this police force, I would say that I am justified in taking up arms. - Arundathi Roy

Is armed struggle intrinsically undemocratic?

Even upon carefully weighing the dreadful actions of the Maoists to the highly discriminated class of society that prevails in our society whom they protect, one cant judge if their actions are justified.

Naxalite Demands
Recognise the tribal people's rights on forest

Form a separate Telangana State

Formulate an integrated plan for the development of backward regions of North Coastal and Rayalasseema areas

Implement reforms in the agricultural sector

Intriguing Agendas

It is unequivocally clear that their objective is the violent overthrow of the Indian state Their basic ideology is a complete rejection of Parliamentary democracy as enshrined in our Constitution. Described by the prime minister to be India's most serious internal security challenge In the words of Home Minister it is even graver than the problem of terrorism. If not eradicate, efforts to mitigate are indispensable

Impact upon Indian Economy

Naxal hit states were lagging behind the rest of India by quite a good margin

This is due to fact that naxals doesnt allow any development project to enter inside their region. The bombarding of railway tracks and other public properties lead to loss to government Recently the closing up of rail route in the region of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal lead to huge losses to railways No private player want to invest in this region due to security reasons

Graph: Per Capita National Society Development Product

Economic Cost of Naxalism

State affected with Naxalism lost12.48% of their per capita NSDP over the period 19802000.

Only one state of Naxal affected region, i.e. Andhra Pradesh invested in specially trained and equipped force against Naxals

Impact upon Indian Economy

Naxalite as a surrogate state:

Bihar: naxals distributed the lands to the poor which government has failed to do so. Jharkhand : naxals launched a campaign minimum wage guarantee scheme to the tendu leaf collectors In red corridor they run a parallel judiciary system for solving disputes, results of which is biased towards poor section

The red corridor remains as most under developed part of the country hindering with overall development of the nation

Investments worth 80bn$ are possible in this region due to availability of mineral resources but is stalled due to naxal presence

Socio Economic Development Approach

Federal Approach to Solving Naxalite Problem in India

Law Enforcement Approach

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Law Enforcement Approach

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Deployment of paramilitary forces in naxal infested states with charges waived to tune of 1100 crores for three years. 40% recruitment in Paramilitary forces to be from Naxal infected regions as per a directive

Revision of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme in 2005 to include many elements including insurance, level of reimbursements, surrender related money disbursement (applicable to 76 districts)

Special force of 14,000 personnel consisting of Central Paramilitary Forces, state police and ex-servicemen from areas affected by Naxalism. Setting up of Indian Reserve Battalions will encourage employment opportunities from these regions
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Law Enforcement Approach

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Government of Chhattisgarh started the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker imparts training to counter the well trained and motivated guerrilla force

Funds provided to State Governments to modernize combat and tactical weapons viz. communication, vehicles and infrastructure facility (IED safe vehicles, fortification of police stations)

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Surrender cum Rehabilitation Policy

Aimed at providing gainful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities Monthly stipend of Rs. 2000 along with monetary incentives for weapons Fixed deposit of 3 lacs at the time of surrender which can be redeemed after three years

Vocational/Trade training in an area of their choice unless provided with a job

Involvement of agencies like Central paramilitary forces, policy and military administration and ADG/IG for states

Proven a success in Terrorism Infected States but yet to demonstrate its ability to control naxalite activity. Major reasons being screening procedures for identification and classification ofTerror| Indian under this3/18/2012 policy. The Red Naxalites Economy

Socio Economic Development

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Funding Initiatives Employment Generating Schemes Other Development Initiatives

Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and Backward Districts Initiative (2003-2004) Applicable for 55 districts in nine states and funding of 2475 crores West Bengal: 50 crores Karnataka: 10 lac for each gramin panchayat

NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) Provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages

National Rural Health mission(NRHM) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and Tribal affairs

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Government Laws
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Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 Minimum displacement Vocational Training, Housing Benefits and One compulsory job for each member

Chhattisgarh Special Public Securities Act, 2006 Identification of unlawful activities Formation of advisory boards Penalty Decisions for Chhattisgarh State

Forest Rights Act, 2006

Recognizes the rights of the scheduled tribes and forest dwellers

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Effective Measures?
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Unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA) provides for ban on any organization with any connection to with any Naxal movements like the MCC or the CPI-M (Marxist-Leninist)
Binayak Sen Controversy

Land for Land scheme is an impediment to industrialization and a potential source of financial drainage for Federal Government.

CSPS Bill, 2005 provides unlimited power to district magistrate which leads to denial of right to natural justice at several junctures. Appeal can be filed only in high courts which is another reason for unrest and sense of injustice amongst the people.
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The Economist highlighting Binayak Sen Controversy

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Talk with Naxals

Humanitarian approach

Few Suggestions
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Approach needs to focus on development since the cause needs to be checked in order to prevent further spread. Enforcement approach is deemed to be a short term fix Enforce land ceiling laws, utilization of the funds provided to government to the maximum and Political Expediency with proactive attitude from government side is the need of the hour Stop missions like Salwa judum and ensuring that no counter naxalite operations involve risking the live of civilians Banning of Bal Mandal, the child division of Naxalite Movement Security of ex-Naxals need to be insured post surrender Strategy based on the primacy of para-military and police action will also not yield long-term results. The two must go hand-in-hand deriving strength from each other. We need to rise above partisan political considerations and set aside old Centre versus state arguments
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A Success Story
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Gulshan Bamra, IAS Officer

Songudda, one amongst the 223 highly naxalite violence prone district which was deemed as inaccessible. Posted for three years between 2007 and 2009, number of naxal attacks reduced from 21 in 2007 to 0 in 2009 Managed to double forest revenues from 26 crores to 60 crores in span of three years

I gave priority to line departments for execution at grassroots level. I have seen that wherever the political system is functional, things work better. Focus on community policing and we tried to replicate what Naxals were doing, from health camps to providing food. You need to understand things their way in order to be successful The Red Terror| Indian Economy 3/18/2012

Views on Naxalite Development

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Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development, Government of India I have failed to figure out where politics ends and where Maoism begins in Jharkhand. Where the Lakshman rekha ends in the State I have really failed to know? But I would like to use this occasion to say one thing until the political parties of the State stop using Naxals in their favour, the war will not be wonc

Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Government of India Indias biggest threat to internal security

P C Chidambram, Home Minister, Government of India Naxal violence a growing worry for Indias security. Steps need to be taken immediately

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister, West Bengal Naxalites are more dangerous than terrorists and warned that her government would not remain a mute spectator

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Thank You

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