Govt urges UG cadres to lay down arms; vows cash, stipend
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 04 2021: The government of Manipur has appealed to all underground outfits to come out for a peaceful negotiated settlement in the interest of peace and development and harmonious existence of all communities in the state.

Further, it said that all those groups and individuals who are keen to lay down arms, shun violence and join the mainstream can avail the benefits of government's rehabilitation policy.

In a release, joint secretary (home) Rehanuddin Choudhury stated that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the scheme for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants in Northeast except in the state of Mizoram since April 1, 1998 with the scheme being revised from time to time.

Since the implementation of the scheme, apart from eight groups signing MoU with Government of India and Government of Manipur, many individual militants belonging to different UG outfits have also surrendered, availed the benefits under the scheme and joined the mainstream leading normal life, it added.

The Home Department also informed that the scheme is applicable to those militants who surrender with at least with one weapon.

However, in exceptional and deserving cases, militants who surrender without arms may also be considered for rehabilitation under the scheme.

However, the benefits of the scheme will not be available to the surrenderee, who is a recycled militant/terrorist, it said.

The release mentioned that persons eligible under the scheme will be initially lodged in a rehabilitation camp where they will be imparted training in a trade/vocation of their liking or befitting their aptitude.

They will be paid a monthly stipend for a period of 36 months.

The stipend in respect of a surrenderee will be Rs 6000 per month.

The scale of stipend for various categories of surrenderees will be decided by the state government in consultation with the Government of India.

An immediate grant of Rs 4 lakh will be kept in a bank in the name of surrenderee as fixed deposit for a period of three years.

The money can be with drawn by the surrenderee after three years subject to good behaviour.

This money can be utilised as collateral security/margin money against loan to be availed by the surrenderee from the bank for self-employment, it stated.

The release continued that the surrenderees will receive incentives in various ranges starting from Rs 1,00,000 based on the weapon they bring at the time of their surrender.

Other related details can be seen from the Police Department's website, it further said.

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