CS: Surrendered Maoists will get aid beyond cash

Nagpur: Chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal and Maharashtra DGP Sadanand Date on Sunday visited the Navjeevan rehabilitation colony for surrendered Maoists at Navegaon in Gadchiroli. The two said the state's commitment to bringing former cadres into the mainstream will extend well beyond cash compensation. The district has witnessed 819 Maoist surrenders so far.Aggarwal said numbers tell the story of how the district changed. "Just months ago, people stood on two opposite sides of the conflict; today they are starting a new life together. This is the great strength of faith in the Indian Constitution," Aggarwal said at an event.Rehabilitation cheques from the central and state govts were handed over to surrendered Maoists at the event. Women self-help group members received sewing machines, men got spray pumps, and the gathering received e-Shram cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and driving licences.Surrendered Maoists will be given skill development training, admissions in ITIs, employment opportunities, and business support. Aadhaar enrolment, bank accounts and voter roll inclusion are being treated as priority paperwork, Aggarwal said.DGP Sadanand Date said, "Maharashtra Police, within the framework of the law, will give surrendered Maoists every necessary help. The force will leave no stone unturned in their security, rehabilitation and inclusion in the development mainstream."Gadchiroli SP M Ramesh, in his introductory address, said rehabilitation of the 819 surrendered Maoists will be routed through education, health, agriculture, self-employment and skill development tracks.The event closed with the national anthem sung by children of the surrendered Maoists. State Intelligence Commissioner Shirish Jain, additional DGP Chhering Dorje, IG Sandeep Patil, district collector Avishyant Panda and zilla parishad CEO Suhas Gade were among the officials present.