The most gratifying feature of my interaction with senior government functionaries, whether in-charge of development or security, was the revelation that there was no dearth of funds. The only serious complaint was that they do not have the latitude to prioritize the development schemes under NREGA and MNREGA. This is being dictated by the central government. As a result they felt that the scheme was not appropriately targeted. Left to them, they said that they could have successfully addressed many development issues especially road-communications within the villages.
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The bogey of development being the primary cause of Maoism is best exemplified in the so-called liberated areas of the Maoists. They lie in ruins. The infrastructure destroyed by the Maoists has not been supplanted for more than a decade now. In fact, wherever the Maoists made intense inroads, the areas have been robbed of their soul. It was very much palpable during this author’s tour. Swathes of uncultivated lands abandoned due to Maoists threat can be seen in these areas. All economic activities in these areas at best, appeared to be limping.
Maoism as an Industry
Maoist organizations at all levels are cash rich. Officials in Jharkhand and Bihar pointed out that the scale and intensity of development being undertaken by the two states in effect is also filling the coffers of the Maoists. The Maoists generally do not hinder infrastructure building activity as long as they get their desired levy. They are however very sensitive to projects, which compromise the security of their bases or strongholds.
The fact that Maoists have become cash rich is evidenced by the pay scales they are offering to their armed cadres, which has seen at least four-fold increase in the last four years.
The same is the case with the mining industry. Only those mine owners, who do not pay levy to the Maoists or refuse to provide cover to the illegal mining activities by the Maoists, are being targeted. The officials also maintain that there are unscrupulous business and engineering concerns, who have been using the excuse of Maoist threat as alibi for their non-performance.
The fact that Maoists have become cash rich is evidenced by the pay scales they are offering to their armed cadres, which has seen at least four-fold increase in the last four years. In Bihar, they have advertised vacancies for computer literate personnel, offering them as much monthly salary as Rs.15,000/- . So there is a corresponding equation between the development by the state and wealth generation by the Maoists.
It is no coincidence that the Maoists strongholds are in the mineral heartland of India. Figures suggested by various sources regarding the financial worth of the Maoists through extortion, illegal mining, drug trafficking, vary wildly; nevertheless it is substantial. Some reckon that it may be even more than the GDP of some of the smaller third-world countries.
The wealth of the Maoists has manifested in: increasing mobility of their cadres in the Red Corridor; sophisticated weapons; relatively luxurious bases with generators, solar panels and dish antennas and communication equipment; latest vehicles; better uniforms and better training facilities. The attack on Silda camp in West Bengal in February 2010 was carried out by cadres, who came in four wheelers and the attack on Gyaneshwari Express in May 2010 was carried out by motorcycle borne Maoist cadres. Some government officials were intrigued about the back inflow of wealth generated by the Maoist industry, which is yet to be established. However, they are convinced that it runs far into the state capitals and New Delhi, and possibly also outside India.
In Bihar, they have advertised vacancies for computer literate personnel, offering them as much monthly salary as Rs.15,000/- . So there is a corresponding equation between the development by the state and wealth generation by the Maoists.
Basic development, therefore does impact on Maoism, but only to the extent of making recruitment and mobilization of Maoist cadres difficult. It is only a temporary reprieve because development is a relative phenomenon. It is in context of time, technology, resources and aspirations. To an extent, it enables the state to increase its presence and imprint. It is also truism that ultra-leftist ideology has great adaptability to ride over the grievances economically rich and psychologically impoverished societies.
Earlier in the 80s and 90s, when India was still a weak economy, various factions of the Maoists were engaged in a bitter internecine war, not for ideological reasons but over economic spoils and influence. This author met many victims of this war, who had pathetic tales to narrate.
The internecine war was devastating for the people as two or more factions could never be appeased. However since 2004, after merger of two main groups The Peoples War Group and Moist Communist Center, the extortion and mining industry of the Maoists have been fine-tuned and is yielding impressive dividends. The authorities in Jharkhand spoke about criminal activities of splinter and fringe groups, who are entirely motivated by lure of money rather than ideology. The spawning of such groups is something that the CPI (Maoist) cannot prevent in Jharkhand and elsewhere especially in times when the movement descends into the low phase. This explains as to why there can be no talks with the Maoists, as not one leader can guarantee enduring peace.
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