Chhattisgarh: 'LWE-Affected Districts Reduced From 12 To 6,' Says HM Amit Shah; Aims For Naxal-Free India By 2026

Union Home Minister  Amit Shah appreciate the significant progress made on the internal security front and said appreciable progress made in the front of Naxalism, and the number of most affected  Left Wing Extremism districts and the number of LWE affected district has been reduced 12 to just 6.

In a post on X, Amit Shah stated that the Modi government is committed to creating a strong, secure, and prosperous Bharat by adopting a strict stance against Naxalism while focusing on comprehensive development. The goal is to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Among the 38 districts previously affected, the number of severely impacted areas has dropped to 6, while Districts of Concern have been reduced from 9 to 6. Additionally, the number of Other LWE-affected Districts has decreased from 17 to 6.

The most affected districts now include Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. The Districts of Concern, requiring additional resources, now consist of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Andhra Pradesh, Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Malkangiri in Odisha, and Bhadradri-Kothagudem in Telangana.

Other LWE-affected districts have also seen a reduction, now comprising Dantewada, Gariaband, and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki in Chhattisgarh, Latehar in Jharkhand, Nuapada in Odisha, and Mulugu in Telangana.

The Indian government provides Rs. 30 crore in financial aid to the most affected districts and Rs. 10 crore to Districts of Concern under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme to bridge gaps in infrastructure. Additional projects are sanctioned based on specific requirements.

The progress in curbing Left-Wing Extremism over the past year is attributed to the establishment of new security camps in core areas and infrastructure development, including roads, transport, water, electricity, and welfare programs reaching remote villages.