The Odisha government has revised its surrender and rehabilitation scheme for Maoists, introducing stricter eligibility criteria for exiting the comprehensive welfare regime announced in November last year. The new policy announced on Monday restricts the benefits to only surrendered Maoists, who were active within Odisha or are natives of the state.
The new policy limits benefits to surrendered Maoists, who were active within Odisha or are natives of the state. (HT Photo)The move comes amid concerns that the earlier scheme offered a better financial package than neighboring Chhattisgarh, lacked clear eligibility safeguards and risked becoming a magnet for rebels from other states seeking to exploit higher financial payments.
Officials said the November 2025 policy had inadvertently created a situation where Maoists with no operational ties to Odisha could surrender purely to access higher rehabilitation packages.
“The absence of strong eligibility criteria risked turning the program into a reward system rather than a genuine de-radicalisation effort,” an official said. “We have to ensure that only those involved in genuine Maoist activities within Odisha will benefit from this scheme.”
According to the revised guidelines, Maoists, who are not natives of Odisha but are involved in left-wing insurgent activities within the state, will be considered eligible. Odisha tribals active outside the state can surrender if the Superintendent of Police concerned certifies their involvement and a no-objection certificate is obtained from the states in which they were active, confirming that they have not received resettlement facilities there.
More Read
The revised policy in November last year divided the surrendered Maoists into Category A, which includes high-ranking members, and Category B, which includes middle- and lower-ranking cadres. had financial support from ₹5 lakhs for A category and ₹2.5 lakhs for B category. Additional incentives include compensation for surrendered arms, ranging from ₹4.95 lakh for a light machine gun ₹55 per ammo.
After the policy was announced in November, 45 Maoists surrendered, limiting Maoist presence to the tri-junction areas of Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts. Shukru, a state committee member, is the biggest leader active in Odisha among the nearly 40-odd cadre.
Nineteen Maoists surrendered in Odisha this month. Officials had hoped for more surrenders as the central government’s March deadline to end Maoism approached.
More Read
In 2006, the Odisha government first announced its Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy. At least 610 Maoists have surrendered. Under the new policy, the state government has introduced a flat 10% increase in the bounty amount compared to Chhattisgarh.
