New Delhi: Having achieved limited success
in defeating the Maoists militarily, the government is now
dangling attractive monetary rewards to those Naxalites who
are willing to surrender with arms.
The Centre has asked Maoist-affected states to draw
surrender policies similar to the one announced by it about a
year ago that includes a package of nearly Rs 2 lakh if the
Naxalite comes with arms.
The Central government`s policy gives each surrendered
Naxalite an immediate grant of Rs 1.5 lakh, a Rs 3,000 monthly
stipend during vocational training for upto three years and
even monetary incentives for surrender of weapons.
The Rs 1.5 lakh would be kept in a bank in the name of
the surrendered ultra as a fixed deposit which may be
withdrawn by him or her after completion of three years,
subject to good behaviour to be certified by the authorities
designated for this purpose by the states concerned.
The Home Ministry has conveyed to Naxal-affected states
that apart from continuing armed operations, they must address
questions of poverty and economic deprivation which apparently
motivate many youths to join the extremist ranks.
"A good and effective surrender and rehabilitation policy
would definitely encourage many Maoist cadres to shun violence
and surrender before the authorities. Therefore, it is
absolutely necessary for each state to formulate one," an
official said.
The Maoist-affected states have been advised to examine
the surrender and rehabilitation policies of the Central
government and northeastern states.
The Home Ministry has also offered monetary incentives
for surrender of weapons which include Rs 15,000 for
depositing one AK-47 or AK-56 or AK-74 rifle.
Rs 25,000 will be given for each RPG or sniper rifle, Rs
3,000 for one pistol or revolver, Rs 1,000 for a rocket, Rs
3,000 for a remote control device, Rs 1,000 for improvised
explosive device, Rs 3,000 for one mine, Rs 20,000 for a SAM
missile and Rs 10,000 for a satellite phone.
The guidelines are applicable to those Naxals who
surrender with or without arms.
"Though the Central government declared this policy a
year ago, it has hardly been publicised. So, we are asking the
states to formulate a policy and publicise it so that the
message gets to the Maoists," the official said.
PTI
