Tackling Causes of Maoist Insurgency in India: Challenges, Policies, and Way Forward

The Maoist or Naxalite insurgency, which once spread across the “Red Corridor” from Andhra Pradesh to Bihar, has been one of India’s most enduring internal security challenges.
While the armed insurgency led by CPI (Maoist) is now in visible decline, the underlying causes — socio-economic deprivation, land alienation, inequality, and governance deficits — continue to persist.

Defeating Maoism permanently requires not just military success but addressing the structural roots that gave rise to it.

Understanding Maoist Insurgency

The Maoist movement (or Left-Wing Extremism – LWE) traces its ideological roots to the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal, when peasants revolted against exploitative landlords demanding land and social justice.

Over the years, it evolved into an armed struggle led by the Communist Party of India (Maoist), aiming to overthrow the Indian state through revolutionary violence and establish a “people’s government.”

Core Causes Behind the Maoist Insurgency

Despite ideological posturing, the real drivers of Maoism in India are deeply socio-economic and governance-related.

1. Land Alienation and Displacement

• Large-scale mining, industrial, and dam projects displaced thousands of tribal families.

• Poor or delayed rehabilitation and compensation deepened resentment.

• Land reforms were either incomplete or poorly implemented, especially in tribal and forest regions.

2. Inequality and Economic Deprivation

• Tribals in LWE-affected districts face high poverty, malnutrition, and illiteracy rates.

• Malkangiri (Odisha) has an HDI of only 0.37, far below national averages.

• Despite GDP growth, the benefits of development remain uneven and exclusionary, leaving tribal belts marginalized.

3. Denial of Forest Rights

• The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 aimed to empower forest dwellers, but implementation has been tardy and inconsistent.

• As of 2025, nearly 15% of forest land claims remain pending, while 78,000 hectares of forest land have been diverted for non-forest use in just four years.

4. Governance Deficit and Corruption

• Remote tribal regions suffer from weak administrative presence, poor connectivity, and corruption.

• Delayed justice, lack of grievance redressal, and exploitation by local officials created alienation from the state.

• Maoists exploited this vacuum by projecting themselves as protectors of the poor.

5. Socio-Political Exclusion

• Many tribal communities remain underrepresented in political processes.

• The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) remains poorly implemented, limiting local self-governance.

6. Education and Health Gaps

• In several Maoist-affected areas, literacy rates are below 50%, and maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in India.

• Lack of schools, teachers, and healthcare infrastructure perpetuates cycles of poverty and frustration.

7. Excessive Use of Force and Human Rights Violations

• In certain instances, security operations led to collateral damage and civilian distress, eroding trust between locals and the state.

• Failure to distinguish between innocent tribals and insurgents at times aggravated hostility.

Government Strategy to Counter Maoism

India has adopted a “holistic approach” combining security operations, development, and governance reforms — called the National Policy and Action Plan (2015) against Left-Wing Extremism.

1. Security Measures

• Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like CRPF and CoBRA units in affected states.

• Establishment of Unified Command Structures for joint operations.

• Use of technology, drones, and intelligence-based operations to neutralize Maoist strongholds.

2. Developmental Initiatives

• Aspirational Districts Programme: Targets 112 underdeveloped districts, including several LWE-affected areas.

• Road Connectivity Project for LWE Areas: Improving access in remote regions.

• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Promoting education among tribal children.

• Skill India and Start-Up Schemes: Encouraging youth employment and entrepreneurship.

3. Rehabilitation and Surrender Policy

• Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy provides financial aid, vocational training, and housing support to Maoists willing to reintegrate into society.

• In 2025 alone, over 1,700 Maoists have surrendered, many receiving skill training and livelihood opportunities.

4. Institutional Reforms

• Strengthening of PESA and FRA to ensure local participation and ownership.

• Efforts to make governance transparent, accountable, and inclusive through e-governance initiatives.

Challenges Ahead

Despite visible progress, the following challenges persist:

• Persistent inequality: Economic growth without equitable distribution.

• Poor human development outcomes in tribal belts.

• Slow judicial and administrative reforms in conflict-prone areas.

• Environmental displacement due to mining and industrial projects.

• Ideological resilience: The idea of resistance against exploitation may re-emerge in new forms even after the insurgency fades.

Way Forward: Tackling the Root Causes

1. Inclusive Development

• Prioritise tribal-centric policies ensuring local participation in planning and resource management.

• Ensure land rights, education, and healthcare access for all.

2. Empowerment Through Governance

• Strengthen grassroots democracy under PESA and Sixth Schedule frameworks.

• Promote local employment through forest-based industries and eco-tourism.

3. Social Justice and Equality

• Reform land laws and expedite Forest Rights Act implementation.

• Focus on gender equality and women-led community programs.

4. Dialogue and Reconciliation

• Open peace channels with surrendered Maoists.

• Engage civil society groups, NGOs, and community leaders to rebuild trust.

5. Sustainable Development Approach

• Balance industrial growth with environmental and tribal rights protection.

• Implement ethical mining and rehabilitation frameworks.

Conclusion

India’s battle against Maoist insurgency is nearing a decisive victory, with violence at record lows and mass surrenders marking a turning point.
Yet, true peace lies not just in silencing the guns but in healing the grievances that gave birth to them.

Bridging the gap between glittering economic growth and grassroots justice remains India’s greatest internal challenge.
Only when development is inclusive, participatory, and humane can the ideological roots of Maoism finally be uprooted.

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