Jharkhand reviews surrender policy for Maoists

A day after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren made an offer of talks to the Maoists, the state government today reviewed its surrender policy and recommended some changes in it to lure the rebels back into the mainstream.
Chief Secretary RS Sharma held a high-level meeting of Home Secretary JB Tubid, Jharkhand police chief Rajeev Kumar and other senior officials to study policies of other Maoism- affected states before coming up with some recommendations.
As per the new suggestions, the surrendered Maoists and naxalites of other extremist groups should be put up along with their family members at Hazaribagh Open Jail, which is to be used as a rehabilitation centre, an official release said.

The surrendered rebels and their family members would be given skills training at the open jail.
Upon completion of their sentences, the extremists would be given government employment, including with the police department, once they fulfilled the required criteria.
As per the cash rewards upon surrender, the rebels would get Rs 2.5 lakh while the hardcore ones would get Rs 5 lakh, the release said.

Instead of the existing provision for land allotment to the surrendered rebels, the chief secretary suggested allotment of constructed houses to them.
A lump sum amount has been recommended for the education of their children, categorising it as per their age, and group insurance for them and their family members.

Based on the surrender policy in West Bengal, the chief secretary directed appointment of an officer for the Surrender -cum-Rehabilitation programme.
Soren had yesterday offered talks to naxalites from different groups and asked them to return to the mainstream.