Summary

Security Class 02

BRIEF DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIOUS CLASS (5:07 P.M.)

NAXALISM (5:12 P.M.)

Naxalism is an ideology associated with violent left-wing extremist (LWE) movements in India.
Naxalites work under the influence of the Maoist philosophy.
Maoist philosophy:
(a) Power flows from the barrel of a gun.
(b) No belief in parliamentary democracy.
(c) To capture political power by overthrowing the democratically established government through a protracted armed struggle by the masses.
(d) To build up bases in the rural and remote areas and to transform them into liberated areas.
(e) To expand the liberated areas through the elimination of their 'class enemies'.
(f) Eventually encircle and purge urban areas, and seize power.
The Maoists assert that they are defending the rights of the marginalized i.e. the poor, the landless, Dalits, and tribal communities.
They call for a revolution demanding a radical restructuring, of the social, political, and economic order.
The theory of the revolutionary base suggests the nature of the revolution, i.e. armed struggle, and the base of the revolution, i.e. rural areas.
The liberated areas are the areas which are effectively free of the State control.
Such areas are controlled by the peasants and armed militia.
These sections have frontal attacks on the class enemies (landlords, money lenders, etc.).
Strategies
(a) Armed Strategies involving guerilla warfare.
(b) They have small units of approximately 7 members.
(c) They have a commander.
(d) They maintain secrecy.
(e) They gather intelligence from the locals.
(f) They use the traditional weapons.
To gather local support they spread propaganda, involving the teachings of Mao.
Success of the Naxalbari Movement
(a) Peasant control.
(b) Local armed groups.
(c) They ran many people's courts.
Social Composition
Poor Peasants, Tribals, Landless labourers, Students, and labourers.
Poor Peasants have a high burden of tax, and they were charged high interest by the moneylenders.
Tribals are averse to interference in the customs and living style.
Landlandless labourers were given poor labour wages.
Students especially the unemployed youth get inspired by Mao's teachings.

DECLINE OF THE NAXALBARI MOVEMENT (5:38 P.M.)

(a) Lack of Analytical Approach
They were not prepared for the counter-use of force by the State.
(b) Identification of Class Enemies
The killing of the constabulary which was coming from the local population, led to the withdrawal of support.
(c) Tactical Failures
Maintaining the unity of command and at the same time maintaining secrecy was difficult.
(d) Factionalism in the leadership
There were many leaders like Asim Chatterjee, Sushital Roy, Kanu Sanyal, Charu Mazumdar, etc. and they all had different interpretations of Mao's teachings.
There was disagreement on the involvement of the trade unions.
There was disagreement on the Bangladesh Liberation Movement as well.
(e) No social connection between the Naxalites and the people they wanted to protect.
Naxalite leadership was coming from the urban areas, and they had little connection with rural areas.
The United Front government wasn't able to contain the agrarian unrest. Hence, the governor's rule was announced.
The Operation Steeplechase was launched to deal with this challenge.
The committee to review the land reforms was formed.
On the recommendation of the committee, the West Bengal Land Reform Act, of 1970 was passed.
The family was made the unit of application. Also, the ceiling was reduced to 12.

EXTENT OF NAXALISM IN INDIA (6:00 P.M.)

From its peak in 2009-10, which is when naxalism affected 180 districts across 10 states, Naxalism has reduced its influence to only 46 districts, which reported left-wing extremism-related violence in 2021.
The main states comprising the 'red corridor' include, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharastra, Odisha, and Telangana.
The incidents of LWE violence have reduced by 77% from an all-time high of 2258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021.
Similarly, the resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) have reduced by 85% from an all-time high of 1005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021.
(* Refer to the chart given in the pdf for the emergence of CPI (Maoist)).
Phases of Naxal Movement
1969-72: Charu Mazumdar was the main leader.
1972-2004: Gradual Expansion.
2004-2010: Aggressive expansion.
This aggressive expansion was the result of an agrarian crisis, displacement due to mining, etc.
Dantewada Massacre
76 security personnel were killed in the ambush in the Chintalnal Massacre.
Operation Green Hunt (unofficial name), was launched as a counteraction to comb out left-wing extremism.

DISCUSSION ON DOUBTS OF THE STUDENTS (6:42 P.M.)

CAUSES BEHIND THE PERSISTENCE OF NAXALISM (6:50 P.M.)

Social Structure
Invariably the Naxalite problem overlaps with conditions of poverty and marginalization.
The poor which includes the peasantry and the tribals mainly have been subject to exploitation and discrimination by the land-owning elites and even the State agencies at times.
Economic Factors
(a) On the one hand, India has experienced relatively fast economic growth while on the other hand, there are widening inequalities.
To facilitate growth and to continue with development businesses need more land and natural resources, such as minerals.
However, this coincides with the land rights of the tribals and the peasantry which continues to fuel Naxalite activities.
(b) Development and Displacement
Owing to the left-wing extremism affected region being the mineral-rich region, the investments made by the industries often result in the displacement of the local population.
For example, between 1947 and 2000, 80% of the displaced population in India comprised tribals.
(c) Inadequate Rehabilitation and Resettlement
The absence or the inadequacy of the rehabilitation and resettlement policies leads to the 'aggravation of the deprivation' experienced by the displaced.
Hence, they develop an antagonistic attitude towards the State.
Political/Governance/Administrative Factors
Often it is argued that the main reason behind the Naxalism is the failure of governance.
It is because the State remains the prime arbiter and distributor, especially concerning natural resources.
(a) Failure of Land Reforms
The slow implementation, procedural delays, and the eventual failure of the land reforms is the prime reason behind class inequalities, especially in rural areas.
(b) Implementation of the Schedule 5 provisions
Tribal communities have not been provided adequate participation concerning their own governance.
For example, the Tribal advisory councils have not been constituted at various places, there is a lack of guidelines concerning their constitution, etc.
(c) Poor Governance
Governance is poor or non-existent in certain cases.
In the past, postings to these areas were considered punishment postings. This led to inefficient/incapable officers getting deployed in this area.
Oftentimes, governance even fails to reach these areas, creating a 'governance vacuum'.
This vacuum is then filled by the parallel institutions created by the Naxals.
(d) Implementation of Schemes
Popular schemes take a long to devise, and even longer to implement.
Leaders often delay the projects promoted by their opponent parties.
At the same time, the propaganda machinery of the Naxalites can convince the locals that their only hope is Naxalites.
There is an unholy nexus between the politicians, bureaucracy, and businessmen (mining mafias).
For instance, China has been both overt and covert in its support of Naxalism.
In 2009, as per the Ministry of Home Affairs report, more than 40 Maoist leaders received their training in Nepal
Environmental Support (7:38 P.M)
The degradation and destruction due to mining and industrial activities affect the natural resources for instance forests, wetlands, rivers, etc which are not just economically but also culturally significant for the tribal communities.

APPROACH OF THE INDIAN STATE (7:40 P.M.)

Political Empowerment
The enactment of PESA and Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Economic Empowerment
(a) District Mineral Development Funds
District Mineral Development Funds, wherein a portion of the proceeds from the mining activities is dedicated to the development effort of tribal and local populations.
(b) Aspirational District Programme
Under the aspirational district program, there is a coordination between the central government, state government, and civil society.
They will work together in the health, infrastructure, and education sectors.
The 90% of the districts under the ADP are LWE-affected districts.
(c) Scheme for Special Infrastructure
Heavy spending on infrastructure such as schools, panchayat buildings, and health facilities.
For example, Eklavya Model residential schools.
(d) Civic Action Plan and the Media Action Plan
Law and Order Front
(a) Scheme for modernization of the Police force
It is an umbrella scheme of the central government to provide financial assistance for the modernization and upgradation of the state police forces.
(b) Security-related Expenditure Scheme
The central government reimburses the expenditure made by the state governments towards security-related activities.
(c) Elite Anti-Naxalite Forces
For example, the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh, the Black Panther of Chattisgarh, and the Cobra Battalion.
(d) Joint Command Centre for the CRPF personnel in the naxal affected states.
(e) CM conference of states affected by Naxalism under the Union Home Minister.
(f) National Policy and Action Plan to Address the Left Wing Extremism (LWE), 2015.
(g) SAMADHAN scheme
(h) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act.

THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: CRITIQUE OF APPROACHES TO DEAL WITH NAXALISM.