Saranda Action Plan

The Saranda Action Plan (SAP) is a targeted development and rehabilitation initiative launched by the Government of India in 2011 with the objective of restoring normalcy, promoting inclusive growth, and improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities in the Saranda Forest region of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. The plan combines the twin strategies of development and security, aiming to rebuild trust between the local tribal population and the state in an area historically affected by Maoist insurgency and neglect.

Background

The Saranda Forest, covering about 820 square kilometres, is among the densest Sal forests in Asia. The region is rich in mineral resources, especially iron ore, and is inhabited predominantly by tribal communities such as the Ho tribe. For decades, the area remained economically underdeveloped due to its remote location, poor connectivity, and administrative inaccessibility.
During the 2000s, Saranda became a major stronghold of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), particularly the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The combination of poverty, isolation, lack of infrastructure, and social alienation allowed insurgents to exploit local grievances.
After successful security operations that cleared the area of Maoist presence in 2011, the government formulated the Saranda Action Plan to restore civil administration, promote welfare schemes, and integrate the local population into the mainstream. The Plan symbolised the central government’s approach of “development as a counter-insurgency tool.”

Objectives of the Saranda Action Plan

The SAP was designed with both short-term and long-term objectives, focusing on welfare, governance, and security:

1. To rebuild trust between the tribal population and the state by ensuring visible development and welfare.
2. To restore civil administration and effective governance in an area long dominated by extremist forces.
3. To improve basic infrastructure such as roads, housing, healthcare, and education.
4. To enhance livelihood opportunities through agriculture, forestry, and employment schemes.
5. To ensure inclusion of tribal households in government welfare and rights-based programmes, including the Forest Rights Act (2006).

Components and Implementation

The Saranda Action Plan outlined a series of short-term (up to six months) and medium-term (up to two years) measures for the comprehensive development of the region.

Short-Term Measures

• Basic Relief and Support: Distribution of solar lamps, bicycles, radios, and essential commodities to around 7,000 households across 56 villages.
• Housing Support: Construction of houses for all eligible families under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY).
• Employment and Livelihoods: Strengthening implementation of the MGNREGA for local employment generation.
• Health and Education: Establishment of mobile health units, temporary clinics, and educational support for tribal children.
• Infrastructure Development: Construction of all-weather roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect remote villages.
• Access to Welfare Schemes: Updating Below Poverty Line (BPL) lists to ensure inclusion in government welfare schemes.

Medium-Term Measures

• Sustainable Livelihood Promotion: Development of agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry, supported by training and microcredit facilities.
• Watershed and Forest Management: Soil and water conservation measures and sustainable management of forest produce.
• Community Institutions: Establishment of development and resource centres for training, education, and community mobilisation.
• Social Infrastructure: Construction of schools, Anganwadi centres, community halls, and drinking water facilities.
• Forest Rights Implementation: Expediting the distribution of forest land titles under the Forest Rights Act to tribal families.

Coverage and Funding

The plan initially covered 56 villages spread over six Gram Panchayats of Manoharpur Block, encompassing a population of approximately 36,500 tribal people.
Funding was derived from central and state sources, primarily through the Ministry of Rural Development, with allocations for housing, infrastructure, and welfare schemes. By 2017, an estimated expenditure of around ₹25 crore had been utilised for housing and infrastructure development.

Significance

The Saranda Action Plan represented an innovative approach to governance in conflict-affected regions by combining security operations with development interventions.
Key Significances include:

• Restoration of Governance: Re-establishing state authority and administrative presence in a previously Maoist-dominated area.
• Improvement in Living Standards: Enhanced access to housing, clean water, roads, and healthcare services for tribal households.
• Model for Integrated Development: Served as a pilot for replicating similar development-security models in other Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts.
• Empowerment of Tribal Communities: Recognition of tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act and promotion of livelihood-based empowerment.
• Shift in Counter-Insurgency Approach: Demonstrated a move from a purely military strategy to a people-centric development model.

Challenges and Criticisms

While the Saranda Action Plan marked a progressive initiative, several issues emerged during its implementation:

1. Lack of Community Participation: Local tribal communities were not adequately involved in planning and monitoring, weakening ownership of the programme.
2. Implementation Delays: Harsh terrain, logistical constraints, and poor coordination among agencies delayed many developmental works.
3. Conflict of Interests: Concerns arose that improved connectivity and infrastructure could benefit mining companies more than local residents, as Saranda is rich in iron ore.
4. Environmental Impact: Expanding development and mining posed risks to the forest ecosystem and biodiversity.
5. Security Concerns: Sporadic Maoist activity continued to threaten long-term stability in some pockets.
6. Administrative Gaps: Weak monitoring mechanisms and shortage of staff in local governance institutions affected service delivery.

Current Status and Way Forward

The Saranda Action Plan continues to guide development interventions in the region, with the Government of Jharkhand integrating its goals into broader tribal development and security programmes. More recently, proposals have been introduced to further improve connectivity, education, and healthcare while balancing environmental conservation.
Future Focus Areas:

• Strengthening Community Institutions: Empowering Gram Sabhas and tribal councils to participate in decision-making.
• Transparent Governance: Ensuring accountability and regular social audits of projects.
• Sustainable Mining Practices: Balancing economic development with ecological protection.
• Skill Development and Education: Promoting youth employment and education to reduce vulnerability to extremism.
• Continuous Security–Development Synergy: Maintaining peace through inclusive development rather than coercive measures.