Lok Sabha Question No. 470 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Community Rights under FRA
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 470

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 14, 1947 (SAKA)

COMMUNITY RIGHTS UNDER FRA

†470. SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of districts declared as Naxal-free/less affected from being Naxal-affected since 2014;
- (b) the measurable improvements have been recorded so far in those districts following  the  deployment  of  Central  Armed  Police  Forces  (CAPFs),  in  civil administration, education, health and availability of basic services;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any independent evaluation of the implementation of individual and community rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in these areas and if so, the findings thereof;
- (d) the success rate of the rehabilitation, skill development and employment schemes of the Ministry of Home Affairs for surrendered Naxals and local youths; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  a  time-bound  roadmap  for  these  areas beyond security measures towards rights-based and participatory development and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e):

As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 470 FOR 03.02.2026

of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE menace holistically, a 'National Policy and Action Plan to 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.

- (i) On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government by  providing  Central  Armed  Police  Forces  and  raising  of  India  Reserve Battalions, helicopter support, strengthening of security camp infrastructure, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc.
- For capacity building of states since 2014-15, Rs. 3681.73 crore have been released to LWE affected states on operational expenditure and training  needs  of  Security  Forces,  rehabilitation  of  surrendered  LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of martyred security force personnel/civilians killed in LWE violence etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.
- GoI and State Governments have formulated comprehensive surrendercum-rehabilitation  policies.    The  GoI  also  supports  the  States  in  the endeavour  through 'Surrender -cum-Rehabilitati on' Policy  as  part  of

Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.  The GoI reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of surrenderees under the SRE Scheme.  The rehabilitation package interalia, 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.  10,000/-  for three years.  The affected States have further revised their Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies to make them lucrative and contemporary.

- The  efforts  of  the  States  for  equipping  and  modernizing  their  police forces have been supplemented under the scheme of 'Modernization of Police Forces'. Under the scheme, central assistance is provided to the State Governments for weapons, equipment for Information Technology, Communication, Training, construction of Police stations, mobility and construction  of  police  housing  and  other  police  infrastructure  etc. Under its sub scheme i.e. Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), works of Rs.  1761  crore  have  been  sanctioned  to  LWE  affected  states  for strengthening  of  State's  Special  Forces,  State  Intelligence  Branches (SIBs),  District  Police  and  construction  of  Fortified  Police  Stations

(FPS). The GoI's focus on security infrastructure has been pivotal. So far 656 fortified police stations have been built.

- Under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEMS)  Scheme,  assistance  is  provided  for  basic  structure  of camps and for provisioning of helicopters for counter LWE operations. Rs.1224.59 Crores has been provided to Central Agencies through this scheme since 2014-15.
- There has been a special focus on the financial choking of LWEs and unearthing  of  the  nexus  between  CPI  (Maoists)  and  its  financial supporters.  For  effective  action  towards  choking  of  funds  and  other resources to LWE, coordinated actions are being taken by State Police in cooperation with Central agencies by various means.
- (ii) On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI), several LWE affected areas specific initiatives have been taken 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, 15,016 km have been constructed under 02 LWE   specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 470 FOR 03.02.2026

- For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas 9,233 towers have been commissioned.
- For Skill Development, 46 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 49 Skill Development Centres (SDC) have been opened.
- For  quality  education  in  tribal  areas  179  Eklavya  Model  Residential Schools (EMRS) have been made functional.
- For  financial  inclusion,  Department  of  Posts  has  opened  6,025  Post Offices  with  banking  services  in  LWE  affected  districts.  1804  Bank Branches  and  1321  ATMs  have  been  opened  in  Most  LWE  affected districts.
- For further impetus to development, funds are provided for filling critical gaps  in  public  infrastructure  in  Most  LWE  affected  Districts  under Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now, Rs. 3,953.67 crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017.
- For  ensuring  rights  and  entitlements  of  local  communities,  21,29,753 title deeds have been distributed to beneficiaries (20,24,975 individual titles and 1,04,778 community titles). To further strengthen local selfgovernance  in  LWE  affected  areas,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  is

carrying out a joint planning with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. These measures reflect the Government's commitment towards strengthening community rights and enhancing participatory governance in affected areas.

(iii) The Ministry of Home Affairs has also conducted a survey in seven Left Wing Extremism affected districts of Chhattisgarh to assess the extent of saturation of various government welfare schemes, developmental initiatives and the potential for livelihood generation through an independent agency. The survey has collated details of education levels, health indicators, and the availability of basic services such as primary schools, anganwadi centres, and secondary health facilities etc. This is helping the Union Home Ministry and the State Government  in  fulfilling the objective of bridging the developmental gaps and ensuring livelihood.

(iv) The  resolute  implementation  of  the  'National  Policy  and  Action  Plan 2015'  has  resulted  in  consistent  decline  in  violence  and  constriction  of geographical spread.  LWE which has been a serious challenge to the internal security of the nation has been significantly curbed in the recent times and has  been  constricted  to  only  a  few  pockets.  The  number  of  LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 in 2018 to only 08 in December2025 with only 3 districts now remaining Most LWE Affected.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 470 FOR 03.02.2026

The LWE perpetrated violence incidents have come down from high of 1936 in year 2010 by 88% to 234 in 2025.  Resultant deaths of Civilians & Security Forces have also come down from high of 1005 in year 2010 by 90% to 100 in year  2025.  In  2025,  security  forces  have  neutralized  364  Naxals,  arrested 1022  and  facilitated  2337  surrenders.    The  number  of  Police  Stations reporting  LWE  related  violence  has  significantly  reduced  from  465  Police Stations in 2010 to 119 Police Stations in the year 2025.

(v) As the security  situation  is  improving  and  more  districts  are  getting freed  from  Left  Wing  Extremism,  the  Government  has  emphasized  on sustained socio-economic transformation of these regions. In this context, a new category of districts was introduced in 2024, namely Legacy and Thrust districts. Though these districts are no longer LWE affected but support to the States for these districts will continue for consolidating the gains and preventing relapse. At present, 30 districts fall under this category, and the measures being  undertaken  are  aimed  at  ensuring  long-term  stability  and inclusive growth in these regions.

(vi) GoI is committed for complete eradication of LWE from our country as well as holistic development of areas getting freed from Left Wing Extremism.

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