The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?

Q10. The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?

Left Wing Extremism (LWE), or Naxalism, is an armed movement inspired by Maoist ideology that seeks to overthrow the state through violence, affecting India’s Red Corridor districts since 1967. LWE groups aim to establish an alternative political system through violent revolution, rejecting democratic processes.

Impact of LWE on People 

• Loss of Life: Civilians, security personnel, and even suspected sympathizers face violence, kidnappings, and killings.
  • E.g.: In Dantewada (Chhattisgarh, 2010), 76 CRPF personnel were killed in a single ambush. 
  • E.g.: Civilians in villages are often caught in crossfire, like the 2013 Jhiram Ghati massacre in Bastar where senior leaders and villagers were killed.
• Displacement and migration: Tribal and rural populations are displaced due to fear of violence or security operations. This creates “internally displaced persons” (IDPs), leading to loss of livelihood and cultural disintegration.
  • E.g.: Salwa Judum (2005–07) in Chhattisgarh led to mass displacement of tribals into camps, depriving them of agricultural land and traditional livelihoods.
• Economic backwardness: Destruction of infrastructure (roads, schools, telecom towers) prevents economic development. Extortion and “levy collection” by extremists reduce private investments.
  • E.g.: In Jharkhand and Odisha, contractors and mining companies face frequent extortion demands, delaying projects like road construction under PMGSY.
• Education and children’s future: Schools are often destroyed or occupied by extremists/security forces, depriving children of education. Parents fear sending children to distant schools.
  • E.g.: 260 schools destroyed across various Maoist-affected states over five years (~2006–2011), Home Ministry Report via Rediff. 
• Psychological trauma: Constant fear of violence, threats, and suspicion between locals, police, and extremists create mistrust. Children grow up exposed to violence.
• Gender-specific impacts: Women face dual exploitation of forced recruitment by Maoists and sexual violence during security operations.
• Hindrance to welfare schemes: Flagship schemes like MGNREGA, PDS, and health services remain under-implemented in LWE-hit areas due to lack of administrative outreach.
• Parallel justice system: Maoists often run Jan Adalats (people’s courts), where they summon villagers, conduct trials, and pronounce punishments ranging from fines to executions. 

Government Measures for Addressing LWE

• Integrated Policy: National Policy and Action Plan (2015) combining security, development, rights and governance.
• SAMADHAN doctrine: 
  • S – Smart Leadership: Focus on strong, accountable, and inspiring leadership in security and administrative structures.
  • A – Aggressive Strategy: Proactive, time-bound, and intelligence-based operations against Maoists.
  • M – Motivation and Training: Enhancing skills, morale, and operational capacity of security forces.
  • A – Actionable Intelligence: Real-time, tech-enabled, and human intelligence to drive precision operations.
  • D – Dashboard-Based KPIs and KRAs: Monitoring progress through measurable indicators for accountability.
  • H – Harnessing Technology: Use of drones, satellites, GIS, and modern equipment in operations and area domination.
  • A – Action Plan for Each Theatre: Region-specific, tailor-made strategies depending on the local LWE dynamics.
• Security Strengthening: Deployment of over 100 CAPF battalions, creation of Greyhounds and CIAT schools, construction of 612 fortified police stations, and funding through SRE and SIS for weapons, mobility and training.
• Infrastructure Development: Construction of 14,500 kilometres of roads under RRP and RCPLWE schemes, installation of 6,500 mobile towers.
• Education and Skills: Establishment of 178 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, 46 Industrial Training Institutes.
• Community Engagement: Civic Action Programme with Rs 196 crore for outreach and Media Plan.
• Rehabilitation: Surrender and reintegration policies with financial assistance, stipends and vocational training.

Way Forward

• Gender-responsive disengagement: Develop tailored surrender and reintegration schemes that address the specific needs of increasing female cadres in insurgency-affected areas.
• Tribal rights and land justice: Expedite implementation of the Forest Rights Act and ensure secure land entitlements to weaken grassroots support for extremism.
• Security-development convergence cells: Establish district-level coordination units to synchronize counterinsurgency measures with inclusive welfare delivery.
• Ethical tech deployment: Employ drone surveillance and AI monitoring with strong data protection and human rights safeguards.
• Curriculum-based counter-radicalization: Introduce civic ethics, constitutional values, and peace education into tribal school curricula to foster ideological resilience.
• Decentralized grievance redress platforms: Strengthen Gram Sabhas and tribal forums for local dispute resolution and trust-building with state institutions.

The “Endgame” for LWE demands unwavering resolve and inclusive governance grounded in Sabka Vishwas and SAMADHAN so that justice, development, and trust dismantle extremism at its ideological and grassroots roots.

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