Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a clear directive to the country's top bureaucrats: prevent any resurgence of Maoist influence in regions recently freed from the grip of left-wing extremism. The instruction came during a high-level conference of chief secretaries held in Delhi over the weekend, which was chaired by the PM himself.
Focus on Development to Cement Peace
According to officials present at the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that the current challenge is to ensure that individuals who have renounced violence and joined the mainstream do not fall back into the fold of Maoist ideology. He stressed that the focus must now shift to comprehensive, all-round development—termed 'Vikas Ganga'—across multiple fronts. This includes accelerating the saturation of critical infrastructure projects and government welfare schemes in these sensitive areas.
The PM pointed out that Maoism historically gained traction due to a lack of basic facilities. The extremists maintained control by actively preventing development—often by bombing schools and infrastructure and obstructing road construction—to keep local populations isolated. Officials noted that the success of central welfare initiatives, such as the free ration scheme and the Aspirational Districts Programme, has been acknowledged even by surrendered Maoist leaders. These schemes have weakened the extremists' grip on local communities.
Establishing Deregulation Cells for Reforms
In a significant move to push administrative reforms, Prime Minister Modi asked the chief secretaries to set up 'deregulation cells' within their state offices. These cells are to be modeled on the one in the Cabinet Secretariat and aim to accelerate the reforms agenda, ultimately improving the 'ease of living and doing business' for citizens and entrepreneurs.
The conference reviewed progress on ease of doing business, noting that five states—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Tripura—had successfully completed all 23 identified reforms in the past year. A presentation indicated that the overall progress across states exceeded 75%. Modi also urged officials to replicate the Centre's PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform at the state level to review and expedite delayed major infrastructure projects.
Addressing Risks and Building Human Capital
The PM highlighted the risk of relapse, stating that victories over extremism would only be complete when those who have surrendered are not lured back by propaganda. Officials shared that surrendered individuals have themselves cautioned about potential relapse if promises related to cash rewards, personal security, gainful employment, and local development remain unfulfilled.
The two-day conference, the fifth of its kind, was themed 'Human Capital for Viksit Bharat'. Discussions spanned early childhood education, schooling, skilling, and the importance of sports and extracurricular activities. In a specific directive, PM Modi asked chief secretaries to ensure that all PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools have functional toilets for female students by March 8, 2024. The Prime Minister also expressed concerns regarding irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, according to sources.
The Telangana government contributed to the discussions by making a detailed presentation on planning for a 'post-left wing extremism future', outlining strategies for sustained peace and development.
