A Shade of ‘Red’: “The Red Corridor”

What is the first thing that appears in our mind when we think ‘Red’? What does it signifies generally??

Well, to some of them who have just returned back from a hectic and tiring day at office might agree on it being an emergency, fear, boldness, hatred or violence. While some of them who had a pretty, cheerful day, hanging out with friends, a dinner with family. might just have another version to it. It might remind to some, a red rose received or offered; a red gown yearned for, strawberries in the autumn or just an evening in red.

But the ‘Red Corridor’ is way above and ahead of all of these; significantly a path in red without any visible considerations. The Red Corridor is basically used to describe the regions in east of India which experiences visible and considerable amount of naxalite communist insurgencies. A corridor rarely walked upon.

The due thus been given to poverty, illiteracy, over population and non-diversified economies. The naxalites has been declared as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of India 1967. About 32 % of the Indian states have their paths linked to the Red Corridor. It is contiguous from India’s border with Nepal to the northern fringes of Tamil Nadu. The issue over here is not about the kind and gravity of the insurgencies but the question is WHY?

Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are the 9 states that have considerable visible naxalitic insurgencies. The amount of quantitative and qualitative destructions and losses are immense.

In February 2009, the Indian Central government announced a new nationwide initiative, to be called the “Integrated Action Plan” (IAP) for broad, co-ordinated operations aimed at dealing with the Naxalite problem in all affected states. Importantly, this plan included funding for grass-roots economic development projects in Naxalite affected areas, as well as increased special police funding for better containment and reduction of Naxalite influence in these areas. The IAP might have worked but not enough to contain the atrocities.

The focus of this issue is on the 16 out of the 30 districts of Odisha which are hard hit by the maoist insurgencies. These districts include Malkangiri, Ganjam, Koraput, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Deogarh, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh and Bolangir.

The districts such as Bolangir, Bargarh and Nabrangpur in western Odisha along with Gajapati and Rayagada are the hardest hit and affected areas by the naxalitic movements. Areas of Koraput and Malkanagiri have been provided with special aggressive plans to combat Maoism. Districts such as Nayagarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj and Deogarh are currently considered to be free of any maoist insurgencies.

These affected districts form the west and south coast of Odisha are neighbour to states like Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Considerable amount of naxalitic movements takes place both intra and inter states.

Data Source: http://www.census2011.co.in

Table 1: District wise distribution of population (ascending order) along with literacy rates (2011 census)

From the above data, except Bargarh and Balangir, the rest areas face miserable developmental issues. The result of Maoism upsurge is mostly contributed by the lower literacy rates, over population, rapid increase in population, non-diversified economy and most of all stratified societies. Lower literacy rates, over population are result of sheer lack of awareness whereas non-diversified economy mostly results due to improper access to better infrastructures. Most argue that our nation lacks poor infrastructure but we fail to realize that accessibility to infrastructure and awareness to accessibility should be the major concern. The west and south coast of Odisha heavily relies on agri-based economy and is a major producer of agri-based products. Improper Access and lack of better infrastructure not only hampers those areas but the state as a whole. Although Odisha has gained strength by major industrial investments where power along with metal and mineral industries stock the state, still it is counted as one of the backward state in India.

As mentioned, awareness would result in better literacy rates which would result in increasing the risk takers which would further result in innovation and better productivity. Better productivity would ensure in increased income, better standards of living, employment opportunities overally.

Any project that reaches its highest level of success must have been worked hard at its lowest levels hence for any state to prosper high; it should focus its developmental activities at the lower strata of people. Prolongation of stratified societies results in most devastating conditions of the people leaving them poor standards and an inhumane way to lead a life. Maoism is a concoction of the results of all of these protractive issues.

It’s high time that we concentrate on the ground reality to tackle the on-going issues, by providing them enough flexible and leak-proof methods to lead a life of dignity rather than just providing initiatives at central level with no or less resources to implement them at the ground levels.

[Data Source: Wikipedia, Census 2011]

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