The Naxal-Maoist sunset

MASS surrender by Naxalites and Maoists in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra this week has raised hopes that the decades-long fight against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is finally nearing its end. Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, a key Naxal strategist, laid down arms before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with 60 of his associates in Gadchiroli district, while 78 Maoists — including 43 women — surrendered in three districts of Chhattisgarh. It took a month of back-channel talks to persuade Bhupathi, who had helped spread the Maoist movement across the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border as a founding member of the banned People’s War Group. His return to the mainstream indicates that the Central and state governments are on course to eradicate Naxalism by the deadline of March 31 next year. The judicious strategy of combining counter-insurgency operations with people-oriented development initiatives is bearing fruit.

The challenge from here on is to rehabilitate the extremists who have shunned the path of violence. It’s heartening that a private firm, Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd, is keen to train and employ ex-Naxalites in Gadchiroli, which is being developed as a steel hub with investments of around Rs 3 lakh crore. The goal of creating over one lakh local jobs looks promising. Indeed, the prospect of gainful employment can encourage more Naxalites and Maoists to surrender. The main reasons for the decline of LWE are disillusionment of the cadres with Maoist/Naxal ideology; lack of support from tribal people who have suffered at the hands of extremists; and the growing dominance of security forces. Now, the State must ensure that these prodigal sons and daughters are not left in the lurch.

It is equally important to delve deep into the causes that fuelled this armed movement and helped it survive and thrive for so long. Denial of land rights, social injustice, State apathy — these ills drew tribal communities and the rural poor towards LWE. Good governance and equitable growth hold the key to preventing such a prolonged onslaught on India’s internal security.