Naxal-hit states get Rs 3,450 cr in FY24 for improving infrastructure

To combat left-wing extremism (LWE), the Centre provided ₹3,450 crore of funding in 2023-24 to the eight LWE-affected states to fill the critical gaps in public infrastructure and services in the most affected districts. There are 25 most LWE affected districts across eight states, according to the government.

The Centre has also spent ₹100 crore in the past one year on central agencies for hiring helicopters by the CRPF, according to the annual data of the Union home ministry. The funds were used for payment of bills pertaining to airlift provided by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for counter-LWE operations and for infrastructure support to central armed police forces, said a ministry report.

Union home minister Amit Shah set a deadline of March 31, 2026, to end red menace from the entire country, after which security forces along with the Central Reserve Police Force upped the ante against the Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. Among 11 LWE affected districts, there were no Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs). The Department of School Education & Literacy, under the education ministry, has sanctioned 11 new KVs for these districts. Of these, nine new KVs have been opened and remaining two new KVs have been sanctioned in two LWE districts -- Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Nawada (Bihar). Similarly, six Navodaya Vidyalayas have been sanctioned and opened.


In Chhattisgarh, 50 Maoists including several women have been killed so far this year, while 287 Maoists were killed, 1,000 arrested and 837 surrendered in 2024. According to officials, a total of 290 forward operating bases (FOBs) have been opened across LWE-affected states and 88 new FOBs have been sanctioned for 2025.