the TOI survey on public perception in naxal-hit area

Times of India has come out with a survey conducted by it through IMRB, in five districts of Andhra Pradesh where naxalism has been contained. The findings more than corroborate what the civil society has been telling us: it is the cutting edge bureaucracy and police that have alienated the people. However, fear, more than people's love for Naxals is supposed to be the reason for spread of naxalism.

Please read the report with an open mind. By TOI's own admission, the survey was carried out in districts where naxalism is no more there. On the other hand, this has the advantage as people must have responded without fear and also they could comment on naxalism and post-naxalism situations. The survey was conducted in remote towns and among low income people.

My comments are in brackets along with the queries. The main findings are given here:

• Do you feel that your region has been neglected by the government?

yes: 50%, no:27% [Proves the point, but the question is biased against the government.]

• Do you agree with govt's claim that Maoists are extortionists and mafia?

agree: 26%, disagree: 64%

• Do you agree with Maoists' methods of revolt against govt apathy?

agree: 64%, disagree: 32%

• Do you believe in govt/police's claims about Naxal encounters?

yes: 25%, no: 60%

• Are killings of Naxals justified?

justified: 34%, unjustified: 65%

• Was Naxalism good for development of your area, or bad?

good: 58%, bad: 21%, don't know: 21%
[About three-fourths feel it was good or not bad!]

• Has the exploitation in your region increased after the Maoists left?

yes: 48%, no: 38%

• Now that Naxalism has waned in your area, has life improved or worsened?

improved: 34%, worsened: 27%, no change: 38%
[Why will the people oppose the naxals if 65% feel the life has worsened or there is no change? More so, when they feel that exploitation has increased after naxals left?]

• Did Maoists work for development or were they just armed goondas?

devp: 53%, goons: 15%, right intent but wrong methods: 32%

• Did Maoists force the govt to focus on development in your region?

yes: 50%, no: 36% [Question biased against the government.]

• Are the violence and killings carried out by Maoists justified or not?

justified: 52%, unjustified: 48%

• What was the main reason for the strength of the Naxals in your area?

popularity: 9%, fear: 46%, mixed reasons: 45%

how many more need to die for the naxalism cause?

Two years back, the then Home Minnister said in a public meeting that Naxalism and Maoist violence had become a bigger menace than even terrorism. People, including papers, thought, the Minister was exaggerating things. One year later the Prime Minister had to echo what his cabinet minister had been saying.

In the last two years, a few hundred people - including security personnel, Maoists themselves and people at large - have died because of the Maoist related violence. The central and state governments have been toying with various ways of dealing with the scourge. There are a number of well-meaning thinkers who think that a permanent solution to the problem lies in development. Unfortunately, many of them seem to have become indoctrinated with this view to the extent that they do want only 'development' route and nothing else.

It is very sensible to say that the root cause of Naxalism and its spread is development not reaching remote areas of the country, especially the tribal areas. Together with it, there is wanton exploitation of natural resources without any benefits coming to the locals; there is huge leakage in the system that does not allow the governmental schemes to reach the target beneficiaries; there is police highhandedness and persecution. These ground realities, however, do go against the 'development only' or 'development first' argument. We will not be able to change the ground reality overnight even if we put the best bureaucarats in Naxalism affected areas, pump in funds and change the police forces lock stock and barrel. These things will take time.

So what we need is to try to reform the system and ensure through a focussed approach that the benefit of the governement schemes reach the needy. But that militates against the Maoist credo and their interests. So, they do not allow the legitimate machinery to function there. They want people to suffer so that their writ runs large. They kill CRPF and police forces to prove a point more than to fight 'oppression' and suppression by the security forces. So, it becomes imperative that a rule of law is established, however 'oppressive' it may look from a particular policical philosophical point of view.

The intelligentsia who support the Naxals have a duty to come out with practicable solutions that can be accepted within the limits of the Indian Constitution and laws. The Central Government and the concerned state governments have the duty to listen to all sane voices and find out a workable solution and also to see [even with a strong hand]that such solutions are implemented in letter and spirit. Politicians need to rise above petty partisan interests and join the governements in securing a just and lawful solution to the Naxal problem.

PS: Even as I was writing this piece, my phone got the alert that 8 CRPF jawans wewre killed by Naxals in Dantewara and 80 jawans are missing. Fierce fighting is going on.