Centre re-jigs surrender policy for Maoists

In its bid to effect more Maoist cadres surrender, the Centre has re-jigged its surrender policy by substantially increasing the amount to be paid to those who want to join the mainstream by leaving CPI (Maoist) party.

According to the new surrender policy, explained to the top officials of nine Maoist-affected states in a meeting on Monday, for a surrendering senior Maoist cadre of the level of polit bureau, central committee or area commander, the ministry of home affairs will now reimburse Rs2.5 lakh to the state governments while for a junior level cadre it would be Rs1.5 lakh.

In addition, the Maoist will also be given up to Rs30,000 extra per weapon of the quality of SLR or assault rifle like AK-47 or INSAS.  

Moreover, the surrendered Maoist will also be entitled for a monthly stipend of Rs3,000 for a period of three years.

Union finance minister P Chidambaram, who had Maoism on top of the agenda during his previous avatar of Union home minister, gave the nod to the changes despite facing a financial crunch. The changes will be effective from next financial year beginning April 1.

Sources, however, added that to ensure that the surrendering cadre is a genuine Maoist, the decision of clearing a name will be entrusted to a committee headed by a senior official of the home department and IGP — Anti Maoist operations. Moreover, a cadre will be taken as surrendered only once.

In addition, the Centre has doubled the amount given for community policing to 106 key Maoist affected districts from Rs5 lakh per district per year to Rs10 lakh.

While being generous on one hand, the Centre also pulled up the states for their slackness in implementing several initiatives, that were reported by the DNA earlier.

The chief secretaries and police chiefs were asked why they have not taken up area specific recruitment drives to enroll tribal youth in constabulary on the model of West Bengal and not being able to constitute special forces that can carry out operations up to 15 days at a stretch or done enough to fill up vacancies lying in state police forces.

@manankmr