As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE problem holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc. While on security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc; on development side, apart from flagship schemes, Government of India (GoI) has taken several specific initiatives in LWE affected States, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, skilling and financial inclusion.

During last 05 years between 2018-19 to 2022-23 Rs. 4931 crore have been released for capacity building of the LWE affected states under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), Security Related Expenditure (SRE) and Special Central Assistance (SCA) schemes. Further, Rs. 765 crore have been given to Central Agencies for operating helicopters and addressing critical infrastructure in security camps in LWE affected areas, under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEM) Scheme.

On development front, apart from flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI) several specific initiatives have been taken in LWE affected States, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving Telecomm connectivity, skill development and financial inclusion. Some of the measures are as under:

 

• For expansion of road network, 13620 km roads have been constructed.
• To improve telecom connectivity, 13823 towers have been sanctioned in LWE affected areas. More than 3700 towers have already been commissioned so far.
• For financial inclusion of the local populace in the LWE affected districts 4903 new Post Offices have been opened. Further, 955 Bank Branches and 839 ATMs have been opened in 30 Most LWE Affected Districts since April-2015.
• For skill development 46 ITIs and 49 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been made functional in LWE affected districts.
• For quality education in tribal blocks of LWE affected districts 130 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) have been made functional in LWE affected districts.

The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) have come down from high of 2010 by 73% and 86% respectively in 2023.

     The number of Police Stations reporting LWE related violence has been reduced significantly from 465 Police Stations of 96 districts in 2010 to 171 Police Stations across 42 districts in 2023. 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.

 This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai  in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

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RK/ASH/AKS/RR/PR/AK/545

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