In New Delhi, the Union Home Ministry and Panchayati Raj are taking up a joint plan to strengthen local self-governance in areas affected by left-wing extremism, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
MHA, Panchayati Raj Ministry jointly plan to strengthen local self-governance in Naxal-affected areasIn a written reply, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai said, “To strengthen local self-governance in LWE-affected areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a joint plan with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.”
Asked if the government had done any independent assessment of the implementation of individual and community rights under the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayat Act, Rai said the home ministry had conducted a survey in seven LWE-affected districts of Chhattisgarh through an independent agency.
“The survey includes details of education level, health indicators, and availability of basic services like primary schools, anganwadi centers and secondary health facilities,” he said, adding that the exercise is helping the Center and state governments “bridge developmental gaps and ensure livelihoods.”
The minister said the government’s broader approach to tackling LWEs envisages not only security measures, but development interventions and ensuring the rights and entitlements of local communities.
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Under this effort, 21,29,753 title deeds “including 20,24,975 individual titles and 1,04,778 community titles” have been distributed among the beneficiaries, he said.
Rai noted that these steps reflect the government’s commitment to “strengthening community rights and enhancing participatory governance” in areas affected by left-wing extremism, in line with the National Policy and Action Plan approved in 2015.
The Minister also informed that the number of LWE-affected districts has reduced from 126 in 2018 to only eight in December 2025, while now only three districts are most LWE-affected.
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