Committed to rehabilitating insurgents: Government

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) The government is committed to rehabilitating youths who got involved with insurgents and Left wing extremists and are now willing to surrender, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

 

"The ministry of home affairs is implementing a scheme for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants of the northeastern region to wean away the misguided youth and hard-core militants who have strayed into the fold of militancy and later find themselves trapped in that net," Rijiju said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

He said the ministry is also implementing the scheme for rehabilitation of Left wing extremists.

The minister said each district affected by Left wing extremism is being given Rs.30 crore extra for development work.

Rijiju said the scheme also seeks to ensure that the militants, who have surrendered, do not find it attractive to join militancy again.

He also said that following this policy, a number of insurgent or militant outfits have surrendered along with their weapons.

Under this scheme, a one-time grant, a monthly stipend, incentive for weapons etc are given to those who surrender.

Those who surrender are initially lodged in rehabilitation camps where vocational training is given to them for self employment as well as employment in the organized sector, the minister said.