Amaravati, October 6: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy conveyed that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is diminishing in the state, with Maoist activities now confined to a few pockets in the agency areas.
Speaking at a review meeting on LWE chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, Chief Minister Reddy highlighted that the state had been grappling with LWE for over four decades. He credited the positive results to a comprehensive approach encompassing security measures, development initiatives, and the protection of the rights and entitlements of local communities under the National Policy and Action Plan.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for continuous and collaborative efforts from both the central and state governments to prevent the further spread of LWE. While maintaining law and order falls within the purview of the states, Reddy stressed the importance of unwavering financial and strategic support from the Centre, especially in terms of capacity-building, modernization of police forces, and development initiatives.
He shared that the state government had managed to contain Maoist activities to a few pockets in Alluri Sitharama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, compared to their original presence in five districts. Additionally, the strength of LWE cadres had reduced from 150 in 2019 to 50 in 2023.
Andhra Pradesh has been proactive in sharing intelligence with neighboring states like Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh to address the LWE issue effectively. Simultaneously, efforts to tackle the root causes of LWE, such as poverty, illiteracy, inadequate healthcare, and unemployment, were undertaken. Tribal communities were encouraged to cultivate alternate commercial crops, and ownership of forest lands was granted to eligible tribal farmers.
The state also laid roads spanning 1087 km in LWE areas under the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) scheme and established Ekalavya schools in tribal regions to ensure access to quality education. Initiatives to enhance connectivity, including the establishment of communication towers, were also initiated.
Chief Minister Reddy highlighted the government’s efforts in the education sector, including the operation of various schools and hostels, along with welfare schemes and preventive healthcare through family doctors and village health clinics. He emphasized the need for more bank branches in tribal areas to further development efforts.
