Welfare outreach and development negated Reds’ territorial grip

NEW DELHI: The NDA government’s muscular approach in rooting out Naxalism, brought forth by encounter killings of its armed cadre and top commanders in large numbers, has been a constant fodder for admirers of this hardline policy as well as for its critics. But what has been less talked about is a parallel focus on intensifying basic initiatives like building schools and health centres and boosting infrastructure in the vast region, which was deprived of even basic civic necessities as the writ of the state was overshadowed by the tight grip of left-wing extremism.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who has spearheaded the anti-Naxal strategy, was at pains during his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday to debunk the popular narrative that lack of development was a key factor behind the surge of Maoists. It was, in fact, their rise that ensured that the expansion of development initiatives skipped the red corridor, he argued.

So focus on development initiatives in the largely tribal regions, the nucleus of Maoists, made for a parallel track in the government’s anti-Naxal drive along with intensifying security crackdown.

It cleared projects of nearly 18,000 km of roads in affected areas — as insurgents often used improvised explosive devices (IEDS) in unpaved roads — while ensuring facilitation of movement for security forces as well as villagers. Over 12,000 km of roads have been constructed, Shah noted. Over 5,000 mobile towers were also installed, linking many unconnected and remote areas with modern communication, allowing locals to get linked to the wider world more easily than ever.

Bank branches, ATMs kiosks and post offices were set up in thousands, over 250 Eklavya tribal schools were opened and regular health camps were organised in distant places, besides opening of hospitals in several places, giving the tribal population a taste of govt’s welfare outreach at a scale never seen earlier, and this helped loosen the hold of Naxals over tribals as they used to be often the only, if even limited, source of help for them.

The Modi govt’s development initiative for aspirational districts, a programme for areas falling behind on socio-economic metrics, also came in handy.

Maoists, who used to blow up schools or water tankers earlier, were left to fight a battle for their survival as security forces, in coordination with police in various states, piled pressure on them while locals benefited from developments.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai had said at an interaction that dreaded Maoist Hidma’s mother too was treated at a govt hospital.

Shah said in his speech that Naxalism did not spread because of poverty, but it was rather the other way round, blaming Leftist ideology for its rise and noting that communists were inspired by “foreign” ideas. Maoists chose the Red corridor not to fight discrimination, but because of weak govt presence, he said.

Shah found fault with the politics of BJP’s opponents, including the Congress, for the long run of Naxals, alleging that the National Advisory Council, which was formed under Sonia Gandhi’s chairmanship, was filled with Naxal sympathisers.
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