PRACTICAL WAYS TO DEAL WITH MAOIST REBELLION IN INDIA

Mukesh Devrari 

Experts from across the the country participated in the round Table Conference on ‘Naxalism, Development and Crisis of Governance in the Context of Jharkhand’, which was organized by the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Management of Central University of Jharkhand on 26th March 2014. Conference was divided into four sessions ‘Is the Maoist Movement Critical’, ‘Dynamics and Drivers’, ‘The State as Problem and Solution’ and ‘Can the Future Be Better’.

Open invitation was extended to all faculty members and students of Central University Jharkhand to attend the round table and freely express their views. However, during the discussion none of the participants explicitly mentioned that Maoists are actually fighting an ideological war with the state. Many of them preferred to describe rebellion in central India as land reform movement which has been degenerated into law and order problem of large proportions. 

Practical suggestions were put forth in the conference to deal with the Maoist insurgency in mineral rich central India. However, there was little agreement on the issue as such.

• Construction of proper roads, schools, and health centers in tribal areas should be given priority. At the same time state must implement the food security bill in tribal areas on priority basis to win their confidence and full participation in the development process. 
• Keeping in mind the resistance from people, industrialization in the state should usher through public sector undertakings. Only PSU’s should be allowed to exploit the natural resources in the area.
• Government must pay at least 10 times more than the market price as compensation before acquiring the land of tribal community.
• Construction of small dams should be encouraged to provide irrigation facilities to farmers.
• Establishment of food processing should be encouraged to generate employment.
• Population growth should be controlled in tribal areas for better future by spreading awareness about family planning.
• Role of civil society should be encouraged to establish communication with the community.
• Corporate houses operating in Maoist affected areas should be encouraged to spend at least a small part of their profit for the development of the area.
• Model of development must be tailored to suit particular area.
• Decentralization of power must be encouraged through proper implementation of Panchayati Raj System.
• Activities of people with interests in perpetual conflict must be curbed.
• Negotiation with Maoists must start. State must not indulge in extrajudicial killing of Maoists leaders and their sympathizers.
• State must communicate with the people of Maoist affected areas and must inform them about its noble intention to counter the propaganda by communists and hear their concerns.
• Special administrative officers should be appointed for providing policy inputs.
• Synergy should be developed in the military and development operation in affected areas.
• Credible data should be provided to policy makers to guide them in policy formation.

Maoist rebels generally claim that government is ignoring the voices and aspirations of tribal people living in central India as their demands are antagonistic to the schemes of large corporate houses on whose behalf state is acting. Tribal community must be informed that industrialization is necessity, even communist regimes resort to exploitation of natural resources through state owned companies. Industrialization will not be stopped, even if communist government comes to the power in India.

State must use dual strategy to deal with Maoists. State must use security forces to eliminate communist revolutionaries and at the same time placate tribal community through modest schemes like roads, schools and other such development measures. During the discussion one or two academicians also suggested that their counterparts who are sympathizers of Maoist rebels should be taken to the task by state by denying them benefit which they accrue from the state. It is highly problematic, objectionable and undemocratic way of dealing with dissent of any kind which must be ignored and should have no place in democratic India.  

Prof. A. N. Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jharkhand inaugurated the roundtable conference. R. R. Prasad, Former DGP of Jharkhand, Dr Ajay Sahni, Executive Director of Institute of Conflict Management, Dr Alok Kumar, Associate Professor in Centre for Political Studies of Central University of Bihar, Dr. N. Manoharan, Research Fellow at National Maritime Foundation, Dr Ashok Nimesh, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Management of Central University of Jharkhand were the participants in the event among others. 

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