Jammu, January 31
In a bid to make terrorists return to their homes, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today announced an incentive of Rs 1.50 lakh and a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 to each one of them who shuns the gun and returns to the mainstream. Besides, interest-free loans will be provided to them for self-employment.
The decision to launch the scheme was taken at a meting of the Cabinet that was presided over by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma.
The scheme, which was put to a hold on the orders of the Centre following sharp criticism from various sections a few months ago, has now been cleared by the Central Government.
The Chief Secretary, Mr Sudhir Singh Bloeria, said under the rehabilitation scheme, the government would provide an incentive of Rs 1.50 lakh in the shape of a fixed deposit, which could be withdrawn on completion of three years of normal life with good behaviour after the surrender by the militant.
A monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 will be paid to each militant after he surrenders.
The rehabilitation policy provides for free of cost vocational training of surrendered militants. For those surrendered militants, who desire to set up self-employment projects, 10 per cent margin money and 15 per cent promoters’ contribution will be borne by the state government and the remaining 75 per cent amount will be raised as bank loan up to a maximum of Rs 2.50 lakh. However, a higher limit will be considered in case the surrendered militants desire to own trucks of any type.
The surrendered militants will be entitled to an interest subsidy of 100 per cent for the first six months, 75 per cent during the next one year and 50 per cent in the next six months.
All this money will be made available from security-related expenditure.
The Chief Secretary said the policy did not provide any incentive to those militants who surrendered under the earlier policy of 1995 and again joined the terrorist ranks. The government would consider surrender of those youths who had gone to Pakistan and now wanted to return to their homes to lead a normal life. Those involved in heinous crimes would not be entitled to the benefit of the scheme.
The scheme provides specified places of surrender and the competent authorities for accepting the surrender, besides amounts to be paid for different weapons laid by these militants.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that a sum of over Rs 4 crore would be spent during the current year under the scheme to provide incentives to the militants who surrender.
