Insurgency
Naxal insurgency has been in the headlines since the unrest in Lalgarh region in Paschim Medinipore district of West Bengal. Naxal uprising in West Bengal where Communist government has been in power for more than three decades at a stretch shows the lack of development and disconnect with the masses in that region. The writ of the state administration does not run beyond the district headquarters. It shows the casual and callous attitude of the state government to those masses living in far away places dependant on forest produce and other mercies of nature. They simply do not matter in electoral politics where only large head counts matter. Though there will be a sense of fear amongst some of the people in Lalgarh abour naxals, such movements can not sustain without local ground level support. Since this has happened over a period of time, it definitely shows neglect by state government.
At this stage naxal uprising in Chattisgarh is being treated as a law and order problem. Now there is a strategy angle to it. It is copied from American strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is the strategy of "clear, hold and build" which American army has adopted in Afghanistan. It all sounds okay for a foreign army to do it as they need not be bothered about building trust among the lcoal masses which is an unofrtunate part of business to the local administration. The Amercan army clears the area of insurgency, weeds out unwanted elements and their support structure and build infrastructure. There is no human element to it at all. I am not too sure that naxalism can be weeded out this way as its root lies in years of neglect of tribals and depriving them their basic needs. Added to it there is the vigilante group Salwa Judum instituted by the state government. This seems to function more like Ranveer Sena of Bihar favouring some established people in the society to settle personal scores and getting those vociferous tribals out of the way for economic benefits. The atrocities committed by them have reached the Supreme Court.
Dandewada district headquarters does not even have a petrol pump.This shows the pathetic neglect of the basic infrastructure by administration. Our Home Minister is talking about air support and air attack. Fortunately Air Chief Marshall has expressed himself against such a move.
There has to be groundswell support from the masses in naxal infested areas for a way ahead and lasting solution. Otherwise the bloodletting will continue and there would be no development of benefit for the citizens there and their progeny. Why the trickle down effect of the booming economy and the super power in waiting have not reached these masses ? Has any leading economist given a thought to this ?
It is a huge mess out there. Common man is suffering there. So do the paramilitary and security forces.
At this stage naxal uprising in Chattisgarh is being treated as a law and order problem. Now there is a strategy angle to it. It is copied from American strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is the strategy of "clear, hold and build" which American army has adopted in Afghanistan. It all sounds okay for a foreign army to do it as they need not be bothered about building trust among the lcoal masses which is an unofrtunate part of business to the local administration. The Amercan army clears the area of insurgency, weeds out unwanted elements and their support structure and build infrastructure. There is no human element to it at all. I am not too sure that naxalism can be weeded out this way as its root lies in years of neglect of tribals and depriving them their basic needs. Added to it there is the vigilante group Salwa Judum instituted by the state government. This seems to function more like Ranveer Sena of Bihar favouring some established people in the society to settle personal scores and getting those vociferous tribals out of the way for economic benefits. The atrocities committed by them have reached the Supreme Court.
Dandewada district headquarters does not even have a petrol pump.This shows the pathetic neglect of the basic infrastructure by administration. Our Home Minister is talking about air support and air attack. Fortunately Air Chief Marshall has expressed himself against such a move.
There has to be groundswell support from the masses in naxal infested areas for a way ahead and lasting solution. Otherwise the bloodletting will continue and there would be no development of benefit for the citizens there and their progeny. Why the trickle down effect of the booming economy and the super power in waiting have not reached these masses ? Has any leading economist given a thought to this ?
It is a huge mess out there. Common man is suffering there. So do the paramilitary and security forces.
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