Feelers from Maoists on rehab package announced by West Bengal govt

Feelers from Maoists and their sympathisers have started coming for recently-notified surrender-cum-rehabilitation package announced by West Bengal government for the ultra-Left activists, a senior state official said today.

"Feelers have started coming to us from Maoists and their sympathisers informally but not from hardcore ones as yet," home secretary Samar Ghosh told reporters here.

The state government, however, was not thinking of improving the package announced, Ghosh said, adding steps had been taken to publicise it.

Some benefits in the package for tribals would start from this month while steps had been taken to ensure tribal pension to all beneficiaries, he said.

To a question, Ghosh said the state government was yet to receive confirmation on inclusion of Bankura and Purulia districts in an Integrated Action Plan of the Planning Commission for comprehensive development. West Midnapore was the only district under the plan at present, he said.

The Union Home ministry has directed the state government to submit a proposal for the development of the other two districts under a Special Infrastructure Scheme, he said.