'Govt to amend surrenderee policy'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 17 2012:
While acknowledging that the existing surrenderee policy of the State Government is outdated, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also holding the portfolio of Home, has informed that the State Government would be reviewing and amending the policy very soon.
Talking to mediapersons, Gaikhangam admitted that there are not enough buildings for the surrenderees and the State Government is also facing quite a problem in constructing buildings for them due to various factors including shortage of fund.
It is on this account that most of the surrenderees in the State are being sheltered in the Assam Rifles camps.
Gaikhangam observed that there are many UG cadres who want to join the mainstream.
Unfortunately, lack of proper and adequate accommodation has been a big problem in the process of rehabilitating them.
Nonetheless, the Government would be leaving no stone unturned towards providing facilities for better lifestyle to the surrenderees by providing monthly stipends.
Moreover, the existing policy would also be reviewed and amended for the welfare of surrendered UG cadres.
Fielding questions from mediapersons over alleged claims and incidents of surrendered cadres being used as means to hunt down UG cadres and arrest them and besides becoming victims of fake encounters, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also in charge of Home, disclosed that recently IGAR (S) and all units of Assam Rifles have been instructed not to let any surrendered cadre to go out of their campus without valid reasons.
The State authorities and IG of Jail have also been instructed in this regard for avoiding such unwanted incidents in future.
Gaikhangam went on to inform that the government is putting its best efforts to ensure early completion of construction works on rehabilitation centres and training centres for surrendered UGs at Jiribam under the 13th Finance Commission.
Once these centres become fully functional, such incidents could be tackled easily, he said, adding that he will personally visit the sites and check the progress of the constructions after New Year.
Responding to another question on the expenditures spent by police personnel of Jiribam Police in bringing arrested persons to Imphal for necessary legal procedures, Gaikhangam categorically stated that at present the State Government does not have any policy to reimburse the expenditures spent from the pocket of police officers of Jiribam in bringing the arrested persons to Imphal.
However, the Deputy Chief Minister assured that he would look into the matter and come up with a solution very soon.
The problem would be reduced to a great extent if the jail in Jiribam becomes operational, he added.
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