In fact, the administrative measures taken by the ministry of home affairs so far reflect uncertainty rather than self-assurance. Nearly half a dozen committees have been formed between 1998 and 2006 by the MHA, yet no credible roadmap has emerged. A coordination centre headed by the Union home secretary was formed to review Naxal activity in 1998. On October 7, 2004, a joint task force chaired by the special secretary (IS) was created to deliberate on more effective steps. A Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security and Law and Order held in April 2005 led to a standing committee chaired by the Union home minister and consisting of the chief ministers of 13 Naxal-affected states. A Naxal management division was created by the MHA in October 2006, “to effectively tackle the Naxalite menace”. Aside from these four, an inter-ministerial group headed by an additional secretary has been created in the MHA to review, monitor and ensure the implementation of the government’s scheme for socio-economic development. A meeting of chief ministers held in September 2006 decided to set up an empowered group of ministers, headed by the home minister and comprising select Union ministers and chief ministers, to closely monitor the spread of Naxalism and develop effective strategies. These do not include the measures undertaken by the affected states.

The prime minister referred to two deficits that have aggravated the ‘revolutionary’ violence: in the internal security apparatus and in the management of development. Neither of these has developed overnight and neither can be quickly bridged.

... contd.