Naxal Violence Saw 43 Per Cent Decline Over Last Five Years; Number Of Affected Districts Down To 60

The last five years have seen a remarkable 43 per cent decline in Naxal violence, according to a reply by Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, reports The New Indian Express.

Moreover, Reddy’s reply revealed that the geographical extent of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) had also steadily reduced, with only 60 districts witnessing any incidents of Naxal violence in 2018.

"Of these, only 10 districts account for 2/3rd of LWE violence. The LWE-related incidents of violence between April 2014 to May 2019 have been 43 per cent lesser when comparing with the preceding five-year period," the minister stated.

The Centre in 2015 had created the National Policy and Action Plan, which attempted to tackle LWE using a multi-pronged approach, concentrating on development in affected districts, ensuring welfare entitlements reached residents, while simultaneously upping the ante against Naxal insurgents through security measures.

Moreover, a special central assistance fund has received the government’s green light to boost public infrastructure and services in districts worst hit by LWE; Rs 1,000 crore would be spent on said districts covered under the plan.