The reason is simple. The NDA government seems to treat naxalism as a mere law and order issue. If it were so, naxals would have vanished long ago. Most reports—official and otherwise—in the past have pointed out that naxal menace is a socio-economic issue having its root in inequities in society and the best way to tackle it would be to attack poverty, malnutrition, diseases and lack of education in backward areas of the affected states of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, among others. It is surprising, therefore, that the Home Minister is taking a different line.

It is true that almost all governments in the past, including the previous NDA government led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saw naxal menace more as a socio-economic issue than a mere law and order one. In their own way, the past regimes tried to tackle the situation but without much success. The governments came up with schemes to improve the economic conditions of people in the affected states. The Planning Commission (now Niti Ayog), for example, allocated special funds to Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Odisha for creating infrastructure facilities like roads, schools and hospitals in naxal affected areas. Financial assistance was assured to unemployed youth in these areas to wean them away from naxalism.

Despite all this, sure enough, there was not much change in the naxal activities in these regions. Naxal violence continues to occur in these states with mostly security forces being their target. The businesses and contractors working in these areas have, over the years, worked out informal arrangements with the ultras to keep peace. In other words, the real problem remains and the ultimate sufferers are the common people living there.

It is likely the present government at the Centre may have concluded that the naxals would not give up violence –development or no development. If so, this will be a serious error of judgement. It will be a fatal mistake. Indeed, funds have gone from the Centre in the name of containing naxalism. But much of the schemes paid for, remain unimplemented or partly implemented at best. If schools buildings were erected, there are no teachers. Roads were constructed halphazardly but they disappeared in one monsoon for lack of repair. Village clinics in these areas—less said the better. Unemployment is rampant among the youth with no means of livelihood. They take to naxalism as an easy alternative.

State governments treat this issue as routine accustomed as they are of living with it for decades. Chief Ministers and senior government functionaries have no personal stake. They shift the responsibility to functionaries lower down. There is hardly any accountability or commitment. This has been going on for years. Progress is too slow, if any.

A determined leadership should have been an asset if development work is focused in these areas. But if the focus is on eliminating the naxals as the Home Minister seems to suggest, it may be totally counter productive.

Like black money and corruption are the result of an immoral and greedy society, naxalism owes its origin to years of flawed socio-economic dispensation. What is needed is a focused approach to tackle the menace. Thus far, it has been a half-hearted approach by all governments. The Modi government can make a difference if it wishes to go ahead with a positive approach. But things appear bleak if the Home Minister’s reported statements are anything to go by.

Some people believe that naxal menace in Andhra Pradesh has drastically come down because of bullet for bullet approach. This is not entirely true. The state had embarked upon development works in the affected regions and it gave positive results. The hardcore ultras, thus, got alienated and they were forced to flee to neighbouring states like Odisha and Chhatisgarh. Of course, Andhra Pradesh kept up the pressure on the naxals, unlike other states.(IPA Service)