Odisha updates its Surrender & Rehabilitation Scheme 2025 for Left Wing Extremists, offering financial aid, jobs, and skill training for reintegration
OdishaPlus Bureau
The government of Odisha has revamped its ‘Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme’ for Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) in accordance with the most recent guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The updated framework is intended to reintegrate misguided youth and hardcore members of the banned CPI (Maoist) and its affiliated organizations into society by providing increased financial assistance, job opportunities, and skill-based rehabilitation.
This restructured scheme aims to mitigate Left Wing Extremism in the state while ensuring that surrendered members are offered substantial livelihood opportunities.
Additionally, it incorporates measures to prevent tactical or fraudulent surrenders that are intended to obtain government benefits.
According to the notification, surrendered extremists will be categorized into two groups: top-ranking leaders, including Politburo members, Central Committee members, and State/Zonal Committee members, who will be classified as Category A, while middle and lower-level operatives, such as divisional secretaries, area committee members, platoon commanders, and dalam cadres, will fall under Category B.
Furthermore, the new package stipulates that after surrendering, individuals in Category A will receive up to Rs 5 lakh, while those in Category B will receive Rs 2.5 lakh.
An immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 will be granted, with the remaining funds held in fixed deposits and disbursed in phases over three years, contingent upon good conduct.
In a similar vein, the rewards for surrendering weapons range from Rs 4.95 lakh for Light Machine Guns to Rs 55 per round of ammunition.
Every surrendered extremist, even those without weapons, will be entitled to an additional Rs 25,000.
If an extremist has a government-declared bounty on their head, they will receive either the financial assistance or the bounty amount, whichever is greater.
The extremists who surrender will receive benefits from various social welfare programs, including housing assistance through the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana or a comparable cash benefit, a one-time marriage grant of Rs 25,000, free enrollment in skill development courses with a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 for a duration of up to 36 months, health cards, and subsidized rations under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
Additionally, any assets belonging to individuals who surrender but are later found to be returning to extremist activities or supporting Maoist groups will be confiscated.
