Maoist-Hit Areas in Singhbhum to Witness Voting for First-Time

• 08 Apr 2024

Why in News?

Areas in the Maoist den of Singhbhum will witness voting for the first time, or after decades-long gap, as polling teams and materials will be air dropped from helicopters to enable people living in Saranda, Asia's densest Sal forest, to exercise their franchise.

Key Points

• Despite improvement in the situation, West Singhbhum remains one of the worst left-wing extremism-affected districts of the country. It had also witnessed 46 Maoist-related incidents resulting in 22 deaths in 2023.
  • Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances.
• Thalkobad and about two dozen other villages were earlier dubbed as 'liberated zones' but the administration succeeded in establishing its presence through massive operations by security forces, including Operation Anaconda.
  • Operation Anaconda was launched in 2011 in the Saranda forest area of Chaibasa district against the Maoist extremists.
  • This area is claimed as a liberated area by the Maoists and is functioning as the headquarters of their Eastern Regional Bureau.
• The administration is resorting to innovative ways, including putting up a giant sky balloon at a height of 100 feet, and running 1,284 'Chunav Pathshala' under the Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to make people aware of the need to exercise their franchise.
• 118 remote booths will be set up by personnel and materials dropped from choppers such as Robokera, Binj, Thalkobad, Jaraikela, Roam, Rengrahatu, Hansabeda and Chhotanagra.

Left Wing Extremism (LWE)

• Also known as left-wing terrorism or radical left-wing movements, refers to political ideologies and groups that advocate for significant societal and political change through revolutionary means.
• LWE groups may target government institutions, law enforcement agencies, or private property to further their agenda.
• The LWE movement in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal.

Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)

• Started in 2009, as the flagship program of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for voter education.
• Primary goal is to build an inclusive & participative democracy by encouraging all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision & ethical choice.

Saranda: Asia's Densest Sal Forest

• It is located along the Jharkhand-Odisha border, and is home to a large number of animal, bird and reptile species.
• The word saranda means elephants and the forest gets its name due to the large number of elephants that call it home.