COMMUNITY RIGHTS UNDER FRA

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 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.

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 surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies. The GoI also supports the States in the endeavour through 'Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation' 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 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. 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.

On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI), several LWE affected areas specific initiatives have been taken with special thruston 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).
• 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 self-governance 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.

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.

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 2018to only 08 in December-2025with only 3 districts now remaining Most LWE Affected.

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.

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.

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

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

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