Answer to Tribal Unrest is in the Economics

The Maoist menace is a socio-economic problem. Efforts to curb it as a mere law-and-order problem is a mistake. Troops may combat the Maoists for the time being but anger among the people will remain until their genuine grievances are addressed. The one and only remedy to rooting out the menace is by ensuring an effective delivery system that would carry development to all sections of the society. No one should be deprived of the fruits of development.

It is not that the Central and state governments have no programmes for the welfare of the downtrodden. In being a welfare state India has adopted various policies and programmes for its population living below the poverty line and those denied of basic amenities. But quite unfortunately, all these programmes and policies remain on paper.

As a result there is virtually very little or no impact at all on the ground. Funds meant for livelihood betterment for the poor were looted by corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and middlemen. The problem has been compounded by the advent of the New Economic Policy in 1991. The policy has transformed India from a mixed economy into a capitalist establishment — the fringe people are solely dependent on the trickling effects than on welfare measures initiated by the government. In other words, the poor in India these days are solely dependent on dole from the rich on whom the government has no control.

In such a situation, concerns such as the Maoist issue are bound to occur. After being deprived for long, the Adivasi, the tribal, and people from other sections of the society too are demanding their due now. More and more such people are picking up the gun to teach those in power a lesson. While violence in any form should be condemned vociferously, it cannot be denied that not enough measures have been taken to provide the misguided people a sustainable livelihood. Their basic needs, say, roti (food), kapra (clothing) and makan (house) were not met. Their children are still deprived of quality education and healthcare. Per capita income of these people is dismal to say the least. A couple of years ago, when Jungle Mahal in West Bengal was totally under the influence of the Maoist movement, it was found that people living in that area were earning INR four per day i.e., INR 120 per month. From stated figure, one can easily imagine the condition of the people living in the remote areas of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Odisha and others in the country.

Therefore, the need of the hour is not to take pride in eliminating top Maoist leaders or their sympathisers but to ensure speedy economic development of areas that have been affected by the menace. Development should be our potent weapon in dealing with it, not with guns. Once we are successful in instilling that belief in the minds of the people that the power wants everyone to progress together, any such movements will fizzle out sooner than later. The approach will never bring lasting peace in the affected areas if we rely only on force. It will rather ensure more bloodshed in the future.