Amit Shah says India will be free of left-wing extremism by 2026. Is it that simple?

What the Home Minister missed in his announcement of a final assault on Naxalism was an appreciation of the social and economic dimension of such an armed Left insurgency in the forest and tribal areas of the interior of the country.

Several studies confirm that members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute a significant portion of the left-wing extremist cadres. Despite the supposed welfare state spending billions on these groups, great discontent and deprivation continue to be observed among these marginalized groups.

The acute plight of the peasants, the changing modes of production which render the skills they have acquired irrelevant, the high level of welfare theft, displacement in the name of development, etc. have further increased the sense of discontent and alienation among these oppressed people, particularly in the interior forest areas and in the tribal dominated areas.

A report by a group of experts from the Planning Commission entitled Development challenges in extremist-affected areasgave a detailed report in 2008 on the socio-economic dimension of the left-wing insurgency in India, which, despite some improvements, still largely continues today. Jal Jangal Jameenthe slogan of the left-wing extremists, still resonates in certain parts of the country.

Left-wing extremism remains prevalent in certain tribal areas. The lack of implementation of protective laws in protected areas such as the Forest Rights Act has contributed to further tribal discontent.

Thus, tribal people are denied the unhindered access to land, water and forests that they have enjoyed for centuries. This provides a breeding ground for left-wing extremists who can mobilize tribal people on the issues of jal (water), jangal (forest) and jameen (land). Tribal culture is being destroyed. Hamlets are being dismantled. Their habitat is being destroyed. Those who were once the masters of the resources gifted by Mother Nature are becoming wage laborers in urban and semi-urban agglomerations.

The increasing largesse of the state due to political populism, the intense offensives by the security forces and the ideological dilution within the Naxalite movement have undoubtedly given the state the upper hand. However, the socio-economic milieu that encourages such activities cannot be left unaddressed to bring about lasting peace in the crossfire-torn areas.

(Prof. K. Nageshwar is a senior political analyst, faculty member of Osmania University and former MLC. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed are those of the author. The Quint does not endorse or take responsibility for them.)