Disclaimer
First of all, I'd like to make a disclaimer that I am no Maoist apologist and this article is by no means to extol the Maoist/Naxal movement. The Maoist modus-operandi of violence and armed rebellion to overthrow the Indian state is reprehensible and unacceptable.
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to highlight certain strengths of the Maoist setup, weaknesses of the state (particularly in some regions) that has enabled the Maoists to gain a stronghold in certain pockets of India. In any conflict, it is strategic common sense to assess your adversaries: their strengths, their weaknesses, and to use these to develop strategies to combat them. In keeping with that spirit we take on deconstructing certain strengths and weaknesses of the Maoist movement and the state.
Government weaknesses turning to Maoist Strengths:
The state's weaknesses, are the Maoists strength. The lacuna of governance left by the state provides ample space for the Maoist ideology and activities to fester and draw strength. The state, and people of this country cannot afford to ignore these weaknesses and we do so at our own peril.
1) Displacement of marginalized sections from their land:
The problem:
This is a big one, The ELEPHANT in the room. Due to the infamous nexus between politicians and businessmen in several regions, it is no secret that business interests have assumed priority over fundamental human rights.
Several tribals across central India have been dispossessed of the land that they've been living on for generations. All for what? For wealth ill-gained through the practice of illegal and/or unethical mining for resources. In the short term there may be gains for the politicians and businessmen from such practices but the long term consequences of such practices are unsustainable.
History has long been witness to the conflicts that have developed over land, and the Maoist conflict, which is being chalked up to be "India's greatest national security threat" is to a great extent a conflict over land rights. For the tribals in central India, being removed from their own land leads to further marginalization, discontent, and disillusionment with the institutions of government. These circumstances lead victims to then align themselves with and support movements like the Maoists in an attempt to salvage self-respect, and a lost way of life.
The Maoists prey upon the resentment and hopes of such individuals with promises of violently overthrowing the government that failed to protect their rights, and to remove those who occupy their land.
The state abdicating its responsibility to protect the human rights of its own citizens and worse being complicit in such unscrupulous activities is unacceptable. It plants the seeds for further unrest.
Attempts at a solution:
Changing the way we see the problem
The change needs to begin in perception. It is something that the government, the "mainstream society" are far too often responsible for. There is this distinction being made of "tribals". Yes, they may be a weak, marginalized community, but they are citizens of India, just the same with fundamental inalienable human rights sanctified in the Indian constitution. The state needs to legitimately (and not just as political lip service) recognize this, and act in accordance with decisiveness. This notion may well sound overly idealistic and in a sense funny. If politicians and those with political clout and connections are responsible for the situation, expecting the state to safeguard this right would be akin to leaving the wolf in charge of protecting the chicken coup? This is where we, the people, come in. It is also our responsibility to hold our people's representatives responsible to push this in government and legislative bodies whenever it arises.
Legally recognized land rights
The change in perception necessary, and well and good in theory, but implementation is the absolute key. The very first move ought to legally recognize the entitlement of people to their land. The rights of the tribals to their land needs to be legally recognized with land deeds. They need to be made aware of their right, and their avenues to legal recourse.
Oversight commitees
Another suggestion has been to institute transparent oversight committees that report to the courts, government and the people transparently. The mandate of such committees ought to be to protect the right of the tribals to their land. The committee ought to have representation from leaders elected from within the communities in a election commissioned sanctioned mandate, have civil society representatives, have representatives from the law, civil administration, and government.
Corruption control
This is a real complicated issue of its own, but there's no denying it, the seed to this issue lies in corruption. All the solutions suggested to combat corruption (Too big for the ambit of this post) including a Lokpal, increased transparency and accountability for government dealings etc. and parts of the puzzle to solving the problem.
This article will be continued in the next post. Stay posted by signing up your email with feedburner.
First of all, I'd like to make a disclaimer that I am no Maoist apologist and this article is by no means to extol the Maoist/Naxal movement. The Maoist modus-operandi of violence and armed rebellion to overthrow the Indian state is reprehensible and unacceptable.
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to highlight certain strengths of the Maoist setup, weaknesses of the state (particularly in some regions) that has enabled the Maoists to gain a stronghold in certain pockets of India. In any conflict, it is strategic common sense to assess your adversaries: their strengths, their weaknesses, and to use these to develop strategies to combat them. In keeping with that spirit we take on deconstructing certain strengths and weaknesses of the Maoist movement and the state.
Government weaknesses turning to Maoist Strengths:
The state's weaknesses, are the Maoists strength. The lacuna of governance left by the state provides ample space for the Maoist ideology and activities to fester and draw strength. The state, and people of this country cannot afford to ignore these weaknesses and we do so at our own peril.
1) Displacement of marginalized sections from their land:
The problem:
This is a big one, The ELEPHANT in the room. Due to the infamous nexus between politicians and businessmen in several regions, it is no secret that business interests have assumed priority over fundamental human rights.
Several tribals across central India have been dispossessed of the land that they've been living on for generations. All for what? For wealth ill-gained through the practice of illegal and/or unethical mining for resources. In the short term there may be gains for the politicians and businessmen from such practices but the long term consequences of such practices are unsustainable.
History has long been witness to the conflicts that have developed over land, and the Maoist conflict, which is being chalked up to be "India's greatest national security threat" is to a great extent a conflict over land rights. For the tribals in central India, being removed from their own land leads to further marginalization, discontent, and disillusionment with the institutions of government. These circumstances lead victims to then align themselves with and support movements like the Maoists in an attempt to salvage self-respect, and a lost way of life.
The Maoists prey upon the resentment and hopes of such individuals with promises of violently overthrowing the government that failed to protect their rights, and to remove those who occupy their land.
The state abdicating its responsibility to protect the human rights of its own citizens and worse being complicit in such unscrupulous activities is unacceptable. It plants the seeds for further unrest.
Attempts at a solution:
Changing the way we see the problem
The change needs to begin in perception. It is something that the government, the "mainstream society" are far too often responsible for. There is this distinction being made of "tribals". Yes, they may be a weak, marginalized community, but they are citizens of India, just the same with fundamental inalienable human rights sanctified in the Indian constitution. The state needs to legitimately (and not just as political lip service) recognize this, and act in accordance with decisiveness. This notion may well sound overly idealistic and in a sense funny. If politicians and those with political clout and connections are responsible for the situation, expecting the state to safeguard this right would be akin to leaving the wolf in charge of protecting the chicken coup? This is where we, the people, come in. It is also our responsibility to hold our people's representatives responsible to push this in government and legislative bodies whenever it arises.
Legally recognized land rights
The change in perception necessary, and well and good in theory, but implementation is the absolute key. The very first move ought to legally recognize the entitlement of people to their land. The rights of the tribals to their land needs to be legally recognized with land deeds. They need to be made aware of their right, and their avenues to legal recourse.
Oversight commitees
Another suggestion has been to institute transparent oversight committees that report to the courts, government and the people transparently. The mandate of such committees ought to be to protect the right of the tribals to their land. The committee ought to have representation from leaders elected from within the communities in a election commissioned sanctioned mandate, have civil society representatives, have representatives from the law, civil administration, and government.
Corruption control
This is a real complicated issue of its own, but there's no denying it, the seed to this issue lies in corruption. All the solutions suggested to combat corruption (Too big for the ambit of this post) including a Lokpal, increased transparency and accountability for government dealings etc. and parts of the puzzle to solving the problem.
This article will be continued in the next post. Stay posted by signing up your email with feedburner.
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