Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Rehab Plans for Militants

G
uwahati, Dec 10 : Dispur has decided to go the extra mile to rehabilitate and sustain the pro-peace Ulfa ceasefire group by finalising a monthly package that would take care of the “basic” needs of its cadres.

Sources in Dispur indicated that the government had acceded to the request of the pro-peace group for a monthly package with modifications.

The package will be funded from both the central and the state kitty in the initial phase so that time is not wasted in getting clearance.

The sources said the package would be in the vicinity of Rs 20 lakh, give or take a lakh or two.

“It will be different from what is being offered to the other ceasefire groups,” one of them said.

Pro-peace leaders Mrinal Hazarika and Jiten Dutta said the vibes emanating from Dispur were positive vis-à-vis their request for a Rs 29-lakh monthly package for their cadres living in design- ated camps in Sadiya, Kakopathar, Moran, Tinsukia and Nalbari.

At present, there are 23 cadres in the Nalbari camp and 119 cadres in the other four camps.

The monthly package includes sustenance allowance, training, rehabilitation and expenditure on public meetings.
The group had asked for Rs 3,000 for an unmarried cadre and Rs 5,000 for a married cadre. The Centre now gives a consolidated stipend of Rs 2,000 per month to a cadre in ceasefire.

It also provides 100 per cent reimbursement for expenditure incurred on the rehabilitation of surrendered militants.

The blueprint for the package was prepared last week during a meeting chaired by chief secretary P.C. Sharma to monitor the unilateral peace process announced by the Alpha and Charlie companies of Ulfa’s dreaded 28 battalion on June 24 this year and also to formulate proposals for training and rehabilitation of the cadres.

The proposal will be sent to the Centre for its appr- oval but sources indicated that Dispur would continue to fund the package till the clearance comes, as it would not like to be seen as being “insensitive”.