The Left Wing Extremists perpetrate violence and kill innocent civilians and Security Forces as they believe in violence as the means to capture State power. In past few decades, this has resulted in spiraling cycle of violence in some parts of the country.

1. 1. 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 menace holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy

1. 2. On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions and sanctioning of India Reserve Battalions, helicopter support, strengthening of camp infrastructure, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc.

- Since 2014-15,

For capacity building of states, Rs.3364.32 crore have been released to LWE affected states, for operational expenditure of forces, expenditure incurred on training State Police Forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of civilians killed in LWE violence/martyred security force personnel etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Works of Rs. 1740 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening  of  State’s  Special  Forces,  State Intelligence

Branches    (SIBs), District    Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).

- 621 Fortified Police Stations have been constructed in LWE affected states, of which 543 have been constructed since 2014.

1. 3. The efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their police forces have been supplemented under the scheme of “Assistance to States & UTs for Modernization of Police”. Under the scheme, central assistance is provided to the State Governments for weapons, equipment for Information Technology, Communication, Training, construction of Police stations, mobility and construction of police housing and other police infrastructure etc.

1. 4. On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI), several LWE affected areas specific initiatives have been taken with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development and financial inclusion. A few of these are enumerated below:

• • • For expansion of road network, 14,928 km have been constructed under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).
    • For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas 8,640 towers have been commissioned.
    • For Skill Development, 46 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 49 Skill Development Centres (SDC) have been opened.
    • For quality education in tribal areas 179 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been made functional.
    • For financial inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 5899 Post Offices with banking services in LWE affected districts. 1007 Bank Branches & 937 ATMs have been opened in Most LWE affected districts.
    • For further impetus to development, funds are provided for filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in Most LWE affected Districts under Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now, Rs. 3,769.44 crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017. State-wise developmental achievements in LWE affected areas since 2014 are attached as Annexure.

1. 5. The resolute implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan 2015 has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. LWE which has been a serious challenge to the internal security of the nation has been significantly curbed in the recent times and has been constricted to only a few pockets. The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths of civilians & Security Forces, have come down from high of 2010 by 81% and 85% respectively in 2024. There has also been a sharp decline in LWE affected districts from 126 in 2013 to 18 districts in April 2025.

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