In an alarming report issued by the United Nations, Maoists are stated to be recruiting children for their squads and group works. Most of the recruiting is supposed to be taking place from Chhattisgarh and areas from adjoining states. The report states that this is part of the Naxal strategy for mass mobilization.  According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, the report has been sent to the Security Council. Apart from the Naxal recruitment, the report also highlights the plight of children in conflict zones, the world over. 

“In 2011, incidents of attacks on schools by Maoist armed groups continued to be reported,” further stated the report. The UN Secretary General’s annual report states that children are now part of the armed conflict, with senior members of the group recruiting and indoctrinating children for children’s squads and other associations. Recruiting is being done by groups like Salwa Judum.

The UN report quotes statistics provided by the Union Home Ministry showing 258 school buildings destroyed by Maoists, with focus mainly in areas like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar. This, states the report, has taken place between 2006 and 2011. “Government statistics indicate that the number of attacks on school buildings has declined progressively since 2009,” states the report.

“Also, use of schools by security forces continued in 2011,” continues the report. “The Supreme Court, at least twice, ordered security forces to vacate schools in Chhattisgarh, most recently in November 18, 2011. In January 2011, the Government of Chhattisgarh conceded that security forces were using 31 schools,” the report added.

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