Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 14:
To increase the monthly stipend from Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 per surrenderee per month, a Cabinet meeting held today decided to modify the existing provisions of the Surrenderee Policy.
The modification was specifically made to encourage armed insurgents come back to the mainstream society.
The Cabinet held at the Cabinet hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat this evening was presided by Chief Minister O Ibobi.
Other provisions of the Surrenderee policy modified during the meeting include raising the grant of Rs 1.5 lakhs (to be kept in a bank in the name of a surrenderee as fixed deposit for five years) to Rs 5 lakhs.
In case the surrenderee wants to leave the camp (surrenderee's house), the amount deposited can be withdrawn with interest at the end of three years, mentioned the provisions.
The surrenderees will also be provided accommodation including family accommodations in a safe and secured complex.
The Cabinet meeting decided to set up the proposed complex at Jiribam.
The complex will also be provided with all the necessary facilities like shopping, entertainment, education, health care and vocational training.
In addition, it will also have a production centre and marketing facilities for the products produced in the camp.
It is reported that necessary actions have been initiated to identify the area and to start construction of all the required infrastructure.
The Cabinet decision to modify the provisions of the Surrenderee policy assumes significance in the backdrop of repeated protest agitation by surrenderees recently against the alleged ill-treatment by the State Government.
The surrenderees currently housed in Commando barrack, Minuthong have been enduring several inconveniences.
Unable to venture out and seek jobs for fear of reprisal by their former party colleagues and without any assistance from the Government, they have been leading a very hard life.
The modified Surrenderee policy would certainly prove a big relief to the surrenderees if it is implemented in its true spirit.