Lok Sabha Question No. 3989 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Private Sector Investment in LWE-affected Areas
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3989

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  MARCH, 2025/ CHAITRA 4, 1947 (SAKA)

PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN LWE-AFFECTED AREAS

3989. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  measures  being  taken  to  encourage  private  sector  investment  in LWE-affected areas to boost economic development and employment;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  having  any  engagement  or  dialogue mechanism with local communities to address their grievances and prevent the resurgence of LWE;
- (c)  whether  there  any  State-specific  counter  insurgency  strategies  being implemented apart from the national policy; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a to d):

- As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE problem holistically, a 'National Policy and Action Plan to

## -2L.S.US.Q.NO. 3989 FOR 25.03.2025

address LWE' was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi -pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities  etc.  On  security  front,  the  GoI  assists  the  LWE affected  State  Government  by  providing  Central  Armed  Police Forces battalions, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc;

- The  Policy  envisages  rapid  infrastructural  development  in  LWEaffected areas to boost economic development. In the endeavour, Government of India (GoI) has taken several specific initiatives in LWE  affected  areas,  with  special  thrust  on  expansion  of  road network,  improving  telecommunication  connectivity,  education, skill  development  and  financial  inclusion.  A  few  of  these  are enumerated below:
- -For expansion of road network, 17,589 Km have been sanctioned under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road  Connectivity  Project  for  LWE  Affected  Areas  (RCPLWEA).  Of these, 14,618 Km have been constructed.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 3989 FOR 25.03.2025

- -For  improving  telecom  connectivity  in  LWE  affected  areas,  10,505 mobile towers have been planned, of which 7,768 towers have been commissioned.
- -For Skill Development, 48 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 61 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been approved. Of these, 46 ITI and 49 SDCs are functional.
- -For  quality  education  in  tribal  areas  255  Eklavya  Model  Residential Schools (EMRS) are sanctioned, of which 178 EMRS are functional.
- -For Financial Inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 5731 Post Offices  with  banking  services  in  LWE  affected  districts.  1007  Bank Branches  &  937  ATMs  have  been  opened  and  37,850  Banking Correspondents  (BCs)  have  been  made  operational  in  Most  LWE affected districts.
- -For further impetus to development, under Special Central Assistance (SCA), funds are provided for filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in Most LWE affected Districts. Till now, Rs 3,563 Crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 3989 FOR 25.03.2025

- -Apart from the specific schemes for LWE affected areas, Ministry of Home Affairs  works  in  close  coordination  with  other  Ministries  for optimum implementation of various flagship schemes of GoI in LWE affected areas.
- For  engaging  with  the  local  community,  several  measures  are taken. A few are enumerated below:
- -Distribution of title deeds to Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers, under Forest Rights Act 2006. Till now 21,15,936 title deeds  have  been  distributed  (20,15,337 -Individual  and  1,00,599 -Community).
- -To wean away the local population from the influence of the Left Wing Extremists, Civic Action Programme, is being conducted by, Central Armed  Police  Forces  (CAPFs)  deployed  in  LWE  affected  areas, undertaking various civic activities for welfare of the local people like organising Medical Camps, Skill Development. Rs. 196.23 crore has been released to CAPFs since 2014-15.

- -Tribal  Youth  Exchange  Programs  (TYEPs)  are  being  organized  for outreaching  to  the  tribal  youth  of  LWE  affected  districts.  Through TYEP  tribal youth are exposed  to development  activities and technological/  industrial  advancement  in  other  parts  of  the  country and to enable them to develop emotional linkage with the people in other parts of the country and to make them aspirational. The program also  aims  to  counter  the  false  propaganda  of  left-wing  extremists. 32500 youth have participated in these programmes since 2014-15.
- -To  encourage  Left  Wing  Extremists  to  join  the  mainstream,  States have their own Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies. GoI also support the  States  in  the  endeavour  through  'Surrender -cumRehabilitation' Policy and reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States  on  rehabilitation  of  surrendered  cadre.  The  rehabilitation package  inter-alia,  includes  an  immediate  grant  of  Rs.  5  lakhs  for higher ranked LWE cadres and Rs.2.5 lakhs for other LWE cadres. In addition,  incentives  for  surrender  of  weapons/  ammunition  are  also provided  under  the  Scheme.  In  addition,  provision  also  exists  for imparting  training  in  trade/  vocation  of  their  liking  with  monthly stipend of Rs. 10000/- for three years.

## L.S. US.Q. No: 3989 FOR 25.03.2025

- The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline  in  violence  and  constriction  of  geographical  spread.  The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths of civilians & Security Forces, have come down from high of 2010 by 81% and 85% respectively  in  2024.  The  number  of  LWE  affected  districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018, 70 in July 2021 and further to 38 in April-2024.
- Improved  law  &  order  and  security  situation,  accompanied  by investment in infrastructure has created an enabling environment for enhanced economic development including increase in Public/Private investment.

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