Model Question and Answers for APSC | Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India’s approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE

Ans : Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend
According to the Home Ministry's list, only 25 districts in eight states are now categorised as 'most affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), while Uttar Pradesh is now free it. The number of districts affected by left-wing extremism (LWE) has declined sharply to 70 in 10 states for the first time in over three decades, with Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand showing the biggest improvement, according to a map of the Maoist insurgency redrawn by the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
Until two months ago, about 90 districts in 11 states were affected by LWE which received central assistance under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) while 30 districts in seven states were categorised as "most affected".
Persisting in many parts of the country:
1. Chhattisgarh’s Abujmar heavily affected
2. Trijunctions like that of Chhattisgarh-OdishaTelangana and Madhya Pradesh-MaharashtraChattisgarh are heavily affected by LWE
3. These are also areas of Tribal and highly underdeveloped
The government's approach:
1. The Government’s approach is to deal with Left Wing Extremism in a holistic manner, in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, improvement in governance and public perception management.
2. However, 'Police' and 'Public Order' being State subjects, action on maintenance of law and order, lies primarily in the domain of the State Governments. The Central Government closely monitors the situation and supplements and coordinates their efforts in several ways.
3. The underlying philosophy is to enhance the capacity of the State Governments to tackle the Maoist menace in a concerted manner
4. These include providing the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs); sanction of India Reserve (IR) battalions, setting up of Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorism (CIAT) schools; modernisation and upgradation of the State Police and their Intelligence apparatus etc
5. The government has envisaged SAMADHAN policy to deal with the LWE. If implemented effectively, this doctrine can act as the one-stop solution for the LWE problem, as it encompasses the entire strategy of government from short-term policy to long-term policy formulated at different levels.

It is the belief of the Government of India that through a holistic approach focusing on development and security-related interventions, the LWE problem can be successfully tackled.