Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has significantly revised its Maoist surrender and rehabilitation policy, setting rewards for wanted Naxal leaders and cadres at a rate ten percent higher than those offered by neighboring Chhattisgarh. The strategic increase is designed to encourage active Maoists, particularly those who operate across the state borders, to lay down their arms within Odisha.
Under the new structure, a top-tier Central Committee member, who carries a reward of one crore rupees in Chhattisgarh, will now be eligible for up to ₹1.10 crore in Odisha. Furthermore, the policy includes an additional ₹10 lakh as financial assistance, pushing the total potential payout for a top leader to ₹1.20 crore.
Similarly, rewards for other ranks have been upgraded. A state committee or special zonal committee member, who is entitled to ₹50 lakh in Chhattisgarh, will now receive ₹55 lakh in Odisha. Even the lowest-rung Dalam members, offered ₹1.5 lakh by the neighboring state, are now eligible for ₹1.65 lakh upon surrender in Odisha.
Officials from the state police’s anti-Naxal operations division stated that the enhanced financial incentives are part of a major push to weaken Left-Wing Extremism in the state and align with the national goal of a Maoist-free India by March 2026. The policy also includes comprehensive rehabilitation benefits such as skill training, housing, and financial support for entrepreneurial opportunities to ensure the surrendered individuals successfully integrate into mainstream society and do not revert to extremism.