I am writing this Open Letter about Naxalism to make certain points clear about Naxalism in the audiences mind. I hope this Open Letter would also help UPSC candidates and normal people to understand Naxalism better and how to solve it.
Understanding Naxalism and India’s Fight Against It
Introduction to Naxalism
Naxalism, also known as Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), is a socio-political and armed movement that originated in the late 1960s in the village of Naxalbari, West Bengal. Led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal, it emerged as a violent revolt against socio-economic disparities, state oppression, and the perceived neglect of marginalized communities, primarily tribal and rural populations.
Extra Reference :
Why Naxalism Developed
Naxalism took root due to deep-seated grievances over issues like landlessness, exploitation by landlords, displacement due to industrial projects, and lack of access to basic resources. The movement initially drew inspiration from Maoist ideology, aiming for a classless society and the overthrow of perceived exploitative systems.
How Naxalism Differs from Terrorism
While terrorism generally seeks to instill fear through indiscriminate violence for ideological or religious reasons, Naxalism focuses on armed struggle for socio-economic justice. Unlike terrorism, which often has a global or religious agenda, Naxalism is primarily a domestic issue linked to the socio-political fabric of India, specifically the rights over land and forest resources.
More Points to separate out Terrorism & Naxalism :
- Terrorism or Religious Terrorism is I would consider as an ” action ” which is based on a violent religious thoughts and Naxalism is something different where you can take it more like a ” reaction ” towards certain Government policies.
- Terrorism might be more violent and more cruel than Naxalism.
- Terrorism is something that wants to get others down and Naxalism is something where the people are fighting who are already down by certain Government policies.
- Terrorists might be getting more funding and more support but Naxals might be from village areas and they might be getting lesser support.
- Terrorism is I think targeting civilians also but Naxalism is very limited to Jungles and Government forces and troops are their direct targets rather than civilians.
Struggle for Jungles and Lands
A significant aspect of the Naxal conflict revolves around control over jungles and lands. Tribal communities, who have historically inhabited these regions, see their rights as being infringed upon by the state for mining and development projects. Naxal groups exploit this sentiment to rally support, portraying themselves as defenders of indigenous rights.
Rehabilitating Naxals: The Path to Peace
Rehabilitating Naxalites is essential to curbing the movement. Effective measures include land reforms, infrastructure development, educational outreach, and creating alternative livelihood opportunities. Counseling, vocational training, and reintegration programs for surrendered Naxals have shown promise. Establishing trust between the government and tribal communities is crucial to discourage support for Naxal groups.
As of September 2024, around 723 Naxals had surrendered to authorities in India during the first nine months of the year. The Indian government has been implementing various surrender and rehabilitation policies to help these individuals reintegrate into society. These policies generally include immediate financial assistance, monthly stipends, vocational training, and incentives for surrendered weapons (Times of India).
Several state governments have also introduced additional rehabilitation measures, such as providing housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and supporting initiatives like dairy development to ensure a sustainable livelihood for rehabilitated Naxals (SATP).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed confidence that Naxalism will be completely eliminated in India by March 2026, reflecting the government’s commitment to curbing extremism through both enforcement and rehabilitation (Financial Express).
India’s Recent Success in Combating Naxalism
India has seen notable success in curbing Naxalism through coordinated security operations and comprehensive development policies. The government’s zero-tolerance approach, enhanced intelligence networks, and better-equipped security forces have weakened the Naxal stronghold. Initiatives like the ‘Aspirational Districts Program’ have targeted underdeveloped regions, reducing socio-economic disparity and mitigating the factors that fuel Naxalism.
In March 2025, over 325 Naxalites were neutralized, and more than 2,000 were arrested or surrendered. The government’s commitment to a Naxal-free India by 2026 marks a determined effort to eradicate the movement while balancing developmental and security strategies.
Conclusion :
Addressing the root causes of Naxalism while maintaining firm security measures is crucial for sustained peace. The Indian government’s balanced approach to development and counter-insurgency reflects a growing resolve to eliminate this internal security challenge.
Main Reason to write this Open Letter :
If you see the above mentioned difference between Terrorism and Naxalism you would see that the way Naxals are getting killed the Government could go for a softer approach as well.
- I would like to say that Naxalism is already on a decline in last 10 years and BJP Government has got more amount of time to give better support to Naxalites to get away from Naxalism.
- The government should balance enforcement against Naxalism with efforts to protect tribal lands and communities.
- Many tribal communities feel marginalized due to displacement, land loss, and lack of proper representation.
- Naxal groups often exploit the grievances of these communities to gain support. More communication should be done towards these communities which can solve Naxalism.
- Protecting tribal rights and respecting their culture can build trust between the government and indigenous people.
- Investing in sustainable development, healthcare, and education tailored to their needs can help integrate them into the mainstream without eroding their cultural identity.
- Addressing the root causes of Naxalism can ensure long-term stability and reduce the appeal of extremism.
Overall the main reason to write this open letter is that Government should protect the Jungles better and if villagers are getting better rights to their culture I don’t think Naxalism will be that much bigger issue.
The issue of Naxalism can be easily solved without killing people and by spreading good education in the tribal areas. Communication might be a very difficult thing that can be the main reason why Naxalism still exists and sometimes violence occurs but with a non violent and educative approach you can solve most of the Naxalism related things.
I hope you got good points out of it
Have a Good Day Ahead
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