REVISED COUNT OF LWE-HIT DISTRICTS COVERED BY SPECIAL FUNDING SCHEME

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TAG: GS 2: POLITY, GS 3: INTERNAL SECURITY

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently revised the count of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-hit districts covered under the Special Security Related Expenditure (SRE) funding scheme.

EXPLANATION:

• This revision, following a comprehensive review, has resulted in a reduction from 72 to 58 districts.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has 03 major schemes namely Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) and Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme through which funds are given to States to tackle left wing extremism.
• Under SRE, expenditure incurred by the States on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is reimbursed on 100% basis, while for other items the reimbursement is made on sharing basis in the ratio of 60(Centre):40 (State).
• SIS is implemented on sharing basis in the ratio of 60(Centre):40 (State).
• Under SCA funds are provided to States to fill critical gaps in Public Infrastructure & Services in 30 Most LWE Affected Districts.
• This is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.

Review Process and Communication:

• The revision follows a detailed review conducted by the Union home ministry and the 10 affected states.
• The MHA communicated the new categorization to the chief secretaries and directors general of police of these states.
• The revised categorization will be effective from the upcoming financial year beginning on April 1.
• The reduction in the number of LWE-hit districts is attributed to the combined efforts of the Ministry and the states in implementing various interventions, both security- and development-related.
• These efforts have led to a marked improvement in the LWE scenario across the affected regions.

Classification of Districts:

• The districts are categorized under two broad heads: LWE-affected and Legacy and Thrust districts.

LWE-Affected Districts:

• These are districts where violence and other Maoist activities persist.
• They are further sub-categorized into ‘most affected districts’ and ‘districts of concern’.
  • Most Affected Districts:
    • There are 12 such districts, down from 35 in 2015, indicating a decreasing trend over the years.
    • Chhattisgarh holds the highest number of these districts.
  • Districts of Concern (DOC):
    • A total of 9 new DOC districts have been identified, with Jharkhand having the highest representation.

Legacy and Thrust Districts:

• Legacy Districts: These are districts no longer LWE-affected but still require support for consolidating gains and continued development.
• Thrust Districts: These are considered prospective sites for LWE expansion, necessitating continued support for capacity building.

Distribution of Districts:

• Chhattisgarh has the highest number of LWE-affected districts, followed by Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Legacy and Thrust districts are spread across Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Utilization of Resources:

• The MHA emphasized that resources and funds allocated under the SRE scheme will be utilized in a focused manner on districts as per the revised categorization.
• This ensures efficient allocation of resources to combat the LWE menace effectively.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mha-revises-count-of-lwe-hit-districts-covered-by-special-funding-scheme-to-58-from-72-101710559960252-amp.html