Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released a booklet titled ‘Decisive Battle with Left Extremism’

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Booklet assesses current status of Left-wing Extremism (LWE) in India and multi-pronged strategy adopted by Union Government for peace, stability, and development in LWE-affected areas.
LWE or Naxal insurgency in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari (West Bengal) by Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Current status of LWE
- Number of LWE-affected districts reduced to 45 (in 2022) compared to 96 (in 2010).
- Incidents of violence reduced by 76% between 2010 and 2022.
- Most LWE Affected Districts (districts contributing approximately 90% of LWE violence) came down to 25 in 2021.

Initiatives to counter LWE
- National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE approved in 2015.
  - This led to development of operational strategy ‘SAMADHAN’ which included Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, etc.
- Security related measures: Security Related Expenditure scheme, Scheme for construction of Fortified Police Stations, redeployment of CRPF Battalions, etc.
  - It also included offensive strategies such as joint operations to entangle naxals, financial choking, establishment of separate vertical within NIA for investigation, etc.
- Development interventions: Civic Action Programme, Road Connectivity Project, Eklavya Model Residential schools, Aspirational District Programme, etc.

Socio-economic: Land alienation, social exclusion based on castes, sub-optimal access to basic amenities like education, healthcare, etc.
LWE strategies: Exploitation of local grievances, deep roots in local communities, etc.
Governance issues: Ineffective implementation of Forest Rights Act and PESA Act, state-highhandedness as reflected in policies like Salwa Judum, etc.

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