Bhubaneswar: December 01:
In line with the BJP government at the Centre’s commitment to make the country free of Maoists, the Odisha government has announced an attractive rehabilitation package. To bring back to the mainstream of society, the state home department has issued a formal notification of a revised ‘Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme’.
In this scheme, not only rehabilitation of Naxal cadres but also a guarantee of a new life for those who give up violence and a reward of up to Rs 1.10 crore has been promised to top leaders. On the one hand, through anti-Naxal operations and on the other hand, through such attractive rehabilitation packages, the government has encouraged all the cadres trapped in the Naxal organisation to safely and profitably abandon the path of violence.
Rank-based reward amount
The Home Department has issued a notification on November 27, in which the ‘Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme’ for Left Wing Extremists has been revised. The rehabilitation policies issued in 2006, 2012, and 2014 have been revised and brought into line with the 2022 guidelines of the Union Home Ministry.
This rehabilitation package has been made, not only for encouraging surrender but also for ensuring that they do not return to the path of extremism under any circumstances. The state government has promised to provide financial assistance, accommodation, skill development training, healthcare, ration and various other facilities to the Naxals who surrender under this scheme.
According to the notification, a maximum reward of Rs 1.10 crore has been fixed for Central Committee members or Politburo members. The reward amounts are Rs 55 lakh for State Committee Member or Special Zonal Committee Member, Rs 33 lakh for Regional Committee Member, and Rs 27.5 lakh for Divisional Committee Secretary or Military Platoon Commander.
If a Naxal leader has a cash reward on his head and he surrenders, the amount will be paid to him, whichever is higher. Similarly, active cadres on whom a reward of Rs 5 lakh or more has been announced will be given an additional fixed deposit of Rs 10 lakh upon surrender. This is the first time the state government has announced such a high reward.
Assistance and package for Naxals
The government has made arrangements to provide financial assistance by dividing the Naxal level into two categories. Top-level Naxal leaders at the central and state levels will get financial assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh. Similarly, lower- to middle-level cadres, such as divisional committee members, area committee secretaries, or dalam members, will be given a maximum of Rs 2.5 lakh. A part of the assistance amount of Rs 50,000 will be provided immediately in cash, and the rest will be kept as a fixed deposit and paid after 1 and 3 years, subject to satisfactory behaviour.
Under the revised surrender scheme, Maoists who lay down arms with an AK-47 rifle will now receive Rs 4.95 lakh, a significant increase from the earlier Rs 3.30 lakh. Those surrendering with an SLR rifle, previously eligible for Rs 1.65 lakh, will also be entitled to Rs 4.95 lakh.
All surrendering Naxals will also get an additional incentive of Rs 25,000. Similarly, as part of a social rehabilitation package, they will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 for 36 months during the skill development training. Under the ‘Antyoday Griha Yojana’, a house or cash of equivalent value, a health card and free ration will be provided on a priority basis. If the surrenderer is unmarried, there is also a one-time incentive of Rs 25,000 for marriage during the rehabilitation.
After the Union government’s commitment to make the country Naxal-free and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s announcement in the District Magistrates’ Conference to make the state Naxal-free by 2026, BSF IG Shiv Adhar Srivastava on Saturday also gave the impression that preparations are being made for the final blow against the Naxals. He said that the BSF, along with the Odisha Police, aims to eradicate Naxal activities from the state by March 2026. On the instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, technology-based anti-Naxal operations are being carried out in close coordination with the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the District Volunteer Force (DVF).
