Article 244 of the Indian Constitution relates to administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas. Analyse the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of the Fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing extremism.

Constitutional context

Article 244 read with the Fifth Schedule governs the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than the North-East. It empowers the Governor to make regulations, provides for Tribes Advisory Councils, and seeks to protect tribal land, resources and self-governance, further strengthened by PESA, 1996.

Impact of non-implementation on LWE

• Land alienation: weak enforcement of protective provisions allowed transfer of tribal land to non-tribals, miners and industry, breeding resentment exploited by Maoists.
• Resource exploitation: displacement by mining and dams without proper consent or rehabilitation deepened grievances in mineral-rich tribal belts.
• Governance deficit: failure to operationalise PESA and Gram Sabha powers left a vacuum in service delivery and justice that extremists filled.
• Denial of forest rights and exclusion from development perpetuated poverty and distrust of the state.

Analysis

The correlation between Scheduled Areas and the LWE corridor shows that extremism thrives where constitutional safeguards remain on paper. It is thus as much a development and governance failure as a security problem.

Corrective steps

• Effective implementation of PESA and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• Fair rehabilitation, local employment and rights over minor forest produce.
• Empowered Gram Sabhas and responsive administration alongside security measures.

Conclusion

Honouring the Fifth Schedule in letter and spirit is central to draining the roots of Left-Wing Extremism.