Daily Special Current Affairs Material for IAS (Pre) 2013 National Issues – Topic: “Naxalism”

Chapter: National Issues

Topic: Naxalism

Q. Give brief facts about Naxalism?

• Naxalism started in Naxalbari in West Bengal in 1967.

• The Maoists have since carved out what they call a Compact
  Revolutionary Zone (CRZ), or Red Corridor, stretching from Tirupati in Andhra
  Pradesh to Pashupati in Nepal, encompassing parts of seven States: Andhra
  Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

• They have their footprint in Madhya Pradesh as well. In all,
  the area comprises 200 districts,60 of them labelled hyper-sensitive.

• To give teeth to their struggle, a military formation called
  the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) was formed. It has become a
  proficient striking force.

• The PLGA has army-line command, control, communication,
  sophisticated weaponry, explosives, skills and guerilla-warfare tactics,
  combined with motivated, passionate-to- the-cause cadres.

Q. What was the observation of Expert Group of Planning Commission to tackle
issue of Naxalism?

An expert group set up by the Planning Commission in 2008 on
‘Development Challenge in Extremist Areas’ observed:

• “Naxalite movement has to be recognised as a political
  movement with a strong base among the poor peasantry and adivasis.

• Though it professed long-term ideology of capturing State
  power, in its day to day manifestation it was to be looked upon basically as
  a fight for justice, equity, protection, security and local development.”

Q. How the problem of naxalism can be counter?

• The critical core of the policy to counter the Maoists
  should dwell essentially on a pro-poor- centric credo, inclusive growth, a
  trinity of security interventions, even socio-economic infrastructure
  dispensation in left out ‘rain shadow’ areas.

• Capturing the hearts and minds of the alienated and
  disempowered segments is critical. A positive mindset, sagacity and clarity
  of vision and perception of the powers-that-be are essential. There should
  be active political processes. Political vacuums should not exist.

• There should be operational coordination among the
  affected States. Creative responses to challenges, vibrant micro-level
  governing modules such as gram Panchayats and local bodies in Maoist-bound
  areas are needed.

• There should be community involvement in the combat
  against extremism, modulated and humane offensives of State security forces,
  and zero tolerance to human rights violations and excesses. These should be
  blended with brainstorming psychological operations to bring about changes
  in the psyche of turbulent and anguished minds.

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