Orissa to have new policy for Left-wing extremists

Bhubaneswar, May 19 (PTI) The Orissa government will soon finalise a new policy to encourage Maoists operating in the state to lay down arms."We feel the scheme should be made more lucrative in order to attract more number of misguided youths to the mainstream," Home Secretary U N Behera said today."The existing scheme for surrender and rehabilitation of the left wing extremists is inadequate," he said.He was replying to a query by newsmen on Orissa's number two Maoist Duna Keshava Rao alias Azad, an accused in the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, surrendering before the police in Andhra Pradesh yesterday while security forces have been tracking his movements for some months here.Azad, who has about 40 criminal cases against him, surrendered a week after his close associate Runita Badamajhi alias Pramila was arrested here on May 8.Though police had laid trap to catch the Maoist, who according to intelligence sources was in the city during Pramila's arrest, he managed to escape to Andhra Pradesh and surrendered there.A senior home department official said Azad was apparently finding it tough to operate in Orissa and a better package for surrendered Left-wing extremists in Andhra Pradesh could be the reason why he gave up arms there.According to the existing scheme introduced in Orissa in 2006, a surrendered Left-wing extremist is entitled to get up to Rs 10,000 on acceptance of surrender to meet his immediate needs.Up to Rs 20,000 is given for surrendering with arms and ammunition and Orissa government provides up to four decimal of homestead land to surrendered Left-wing extremists, Behera said.A surrendered Maoist is also given house building grant not exceeding Rs 25,000 along with free medical treatment in government hospitals. Fees for education and text books for their wards up to high school level is also given.This apart, an incentive of Rs 15,000 is given for marriage and assistance up to Rs two lakh by cooperative banks or nationalised bank for starting business.