Giving a reply to a Written Question in the Lok Sabha today, during Question Hour on the question ‘Development of Left Wing Affected ( read Maoist)Affected Areas’ the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai said, “to address the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) menace holistically, Government of India (GoI) has approved a ‘National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE’ in 2015.”

This policy envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, etc.

“Steadfast implementation of this policy has resulted in consistent decline in violence in LWE affected areas. Incidents of LWE violence have reduced by 77 percent from high of 2,213 in 2010 to 509 in 2021. Similarly, resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) have reduced by 85 percent from high of 1,005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021. The declining trend continues in 2022”, Minister said in a written reply.

Geographical spread of violence has also significantly reduced and only 191 Police Stations of 46 districts reported LWE related violence in 2021 as compared to high of 465 Police Stations of 96 districts in 2010. Decline in geographical spread is also reflected in the reduced number of districts covered under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. Number of SRE districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018 and further to 70 in July 2021.             

Similarly, the number of districts contributing approximately 90 percent of the LWE violence, categorised as Most LWE Affected Districts, came down to 30 from 35 in 2018 and further to 25 in 2021. The list of districts covered under SRE scheme is are given below.

c)        On social and economic development front, the Ministry of Home Affairs works in close coordination with other Ministries for optimum implementation of the flagship schemes of those Ministries in LWE affected areas. Apart from the flagship schemes of various ministries, specific schemes have also been implemented for LWE affected areas, wherein special emphasis has been given on expansion of road network, improving telecommunications, educational empowerment and financial inclusion in LWE affected areas. 

More than 11,600 km roads have been constructed in LWE affected areas under two specific schemes. 

For improving telecommunication connectivity, 2,343 mobile towers have been installed and work order issued for another 2,542. Rs 3105 crore has been released to the Most LWE Affected Districts under ‘Special Central Assistance (SCA)’ scheme to fill critical gaps in public infrastructure and services. Under this scheme, various types of projects have been undertaken like road repair, improvement in health infrastructure, education related projects, rural infrastructure projects etc. 

Further towards educational empowerment, 47 Industrial Training Institutes and 68 Skill Development Centers have been approved under “Skill Development Scheme in 47 Districts affected by LWE”.

For financial inclusion, 1,258 Bank Branches, 1,348 ATMs and 22,202 Banking Correspondents have been established in Most LWE Affected Districts and 4,903 Post Offices have been opened in 90 LWE affected districts in the last seven years.            

Details of schemes state wise are as follows:-

1.         Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) in LWE Affected Areas.This Scheme is being implemented through Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for improving road connectivity in LWE affected areas. 5,361 km roads were sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹ 8,585 crore. Of these, 5,065 km roads have been constructed. State-wise details are given below:-

2.         Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). This Scheme is being implemented through Ministry of Rural Development. 12,100 km roads with an estimated cost of Rs 12,021 crore have been sanctioned. Of these 6,561 km of road have been completed. State-wise details are given below:-

3.         Skill Development Scheme in 47 districts affected by LWE:  This scheme envisages creation of Skill Development infrastructure in LWE affected districts. Initially, 34 districts were covered with 34 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) (one ITI per district) and 68 Skill Development Centers (SDCs) (2 SDCs per district). In 2016, 13 new ITIs in 13 new districts were added to cover all the then Most affected districts totalling to 47 ITIs & 68 SDCs, with an estimated cost of Rs 407.85 crore. Of these 43 ITIs and 38 SDCs are functional.  State-wise details are given below:-

4.         Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).This scheme is being implemented through Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Out of the total 245 EMRSs sanctioned for LWE affected areas,103 EMRSs have been sanctioned during the last 3 years itself in comparison to 142 sanctioned during the 21-year period prior to that. Till date, 245 EMRSs have been sanctioned in erstwhile 90 (till June 2021) LWE affected districts. State-wise details are given below:-