Farce of surrender scheme leaves many a widow
Special report on the 13th foundation day of TSE from Ng Liklai
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 10 2012: "My husband was a surrenderee and he had not been related with any underground outfit or activity for the last 10 years before he was killed," lamented 31-year old Lata, whose husband was killed in a reported encounter with SFs.

The body bore multiple bullet marks when the corpse was picked up two days after he was arrested by the State actors.

Lata, a resident of Yurembam Leikai in Imphal West district has to cope with the loss of her husband and the burden of raising the children.

Like Lata, many women have had to confront such predicament.

Even as the word 'surrender' is coined to pave way for many youth who want to resume normal life in a restive state like Manipur, many youth who think of leading mainstream life after a past rebellious life cannot not lead a peaceful life when their lives are in constant peril.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has been imposed in the State to counter the activities of militancy.

The Additional Protocol-II of International Humanitarian Law has not been in force as the armed conflict situation within India has been downplayed as 'law and order problem' .

A ramshackle structure passes off as the house of a widow and the source of livelihood

Many lives have been lost in the armed conflict situation.

As per the memorandum submitted by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur to the UN's Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution, a total of 1528 civilians were killed by State actors in Manipur from 1979 to May 2012.The fact is based on report received by the coalition alone.

This apart, there have been cases of involuntary disappearance.

Several people have also been maimed.

The brunt has been worst borne by women and children.

Based on the observance of several leaders including PM, Governor, CM and Army Officers, the Government has continuously persuaded the 'misguided youths' to return to the mainstream.

As such, a Surrender cum Rehabilitation scheme for surrendered militants has been set up under the Union Home Ministry so as to provide them the chance to live a peaceful civilian life.

Under the Surrender and Rehabilitation scheme, a surrenderee is entitled to a stipend amount of Rs 2000 per month for at least 35 months while they are rehabilitated at such camp.

They are also entitled a vocational training during their stay in such surrender and rehabilitation camps apart from depositing an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh as fixed deposit in their own respective bank account.

Sadly, Lata's husband did not get the benefits provided under the surrender and rehabilitation scheme.

He was not put in a rehabilitation camp.

Instead, he was periodically summoned to report at different army camps; threatened by state actors every now and then.

Her husband, Rajen was arrested by a column of State actor on October 9, 2006 while he was returning home after booking a Housie (tambola) ticket at Salam village.

Two days later, his dead body was found at a secluded place.

The SFs had claimed that Rajen was a member of an underground outfit and added that a weapon was found on his possession.

Lata said her husband was a former member of UNLF who later surrendered to the security forces in 1996.After his surrender, Rajen was happy to live a normal live.

He had two sons and a daughter.

As a bread earner of the family, he worked as a rickshaw puller, sometimes at brick kiln as labourer to support his family.

She categorically refuted the charge of her husband having a link with any UG outfit.

Strongly decrying the manner in which her husband was eliminated, Lata urged the authority concerned to pave way so that surrendered militants like her husband could lead normal life.

"My eldest son was just eight years old while my daughter was six-month old when my husband was killed.

From then, I had to bear the responsibility of looking after the family alone," said Lata in an emotionally charged-up tone.

Recalling that she had once even thought of taking the extreme step in killing her children and herself, Lata said her conscience had prohibited her to take that extreme step.

"Now I have to work anywhere whether it be in saw mill or brick kiln so that I could feed my starving children," she said.

As their neighbourhood, known for its recreational spot, Rose Garden is thronged by many people daily, her son persisted her to open an eatery to earn some money.

But the idea was dropped as they have no money to start the business.

Undaunted, using the refrigerator of their distant relative in the locality, the family make ice-cake (barab) during night time and they sold in during day time to people who are visiting the garden, although with many societal stigmas.

With the income they made in selling ice-cake, they are now able to open a pan shop near the garden.

Now, a member of three women's organisations, Lata appealed all concerned not to kill any civilian or surrenderee.

She added that a person with proven guilt should be given the chance to live another life.

Around 300 youth had surrendered to the Government in what is popularly known as 'Home Coming Ceremony.' State Home Minister Gaikhangam had said that since the Government is yet to have camps for surrenderees, all surrenderees have been accommodated at AR or Army camps where they were given vocational training.