Home Minister Amit Shah aims to root out the scourge of Naxalism within the next three years

Home Minister Amit Shah has declared a bold and comprehensive plan to financially cripple and eliminate Naxals within three years. Naxal insurgency, also commonly called Maoist insurgency, continues to pose a significant threat to the nation's internal security, and has plagued several States for decades. The affected regions primarily include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and parts of Maharashtra, among others. The Naxalites, inspired by Maoist ideology, aimed to establish a communist State through armed struggle, often targeting security forces and Government institutions. The conflict has led to several challenges, including loss of lives, displacement of communities and hindrance to development. On the other hand, several cases have been reported where innocent villagers were harassed on the notion that they were helping insurgents. Though the Minister's statement is welcome, it falls short of detailing the comprehensive plan; it is more of a tactical operation which may get some quick results but may not eliminate the root cause of the problem. The situation in many of the above-mentioned States is deplorable. Besides crop failure leading to farmer suicides, very few avenues for employment and abject poverty worsen the situation in these areas.

The Naxals exploit the socio-economic vulnerabilities of tribal communities and establish their parallel rule. The outlaws strategically align themselves with the grievances of these marginalised groups, advocating for their rights while simultaneously using them as foot soldiers.  The lack of access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities creates a fertile ground for recruitment by Naxal cadres, besides land disputes and resource exploitation. The Home Minister's three-year plan to financially choke and eliminate Naxals, though a good starting point, does not take into account the root causes. Naxalism can be eliminated only when the reasons that offer a fertile ground to Naxals are eliminated. Thus, the Government would do well to address the socio-economic disparities in Naxal-affected regions through targeted development initiatives. This includes improving infrastructure, providing quality education and healthcare, and ensuring access to basic amenities. By addressing the root causes of discontent, the Government can hope to undercut the appeal of Naxal ideology. Simultaneously, there has to be increased focus on security operations to neutralise Naxal cadres. Shah has rightly emphasised the importance of intelligence-led operations to minimise collateral damage and ensure civilian safety. Indeed, the Government cutting off the financial lifelines of Naxals can be effective. This includes cracking down on illicit activities such as extortion, illegal mining and smuggling. Disrupting their financial network is a crucial step in weakening the Naxal infrastructure. It would, of course, need strong political will. We will have to wait and watch how effectively the Government walks the talk or whether it is one of those election promises which are quickly forgotten.