A CRPF jawan, who was injured in an encounter with MCC rebels at Chandwa, being treated in Apollo Hospital. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Feb. 10: The government today decided to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each family of home guards killed in encounters with Naxalites.

The decision was taken at a review meeting which was presided over by chief minister Babulal Marandi.

The decision assumes significance in the wake of the spate of Naxalite attacks in the state Violence erupted today on the second day of the MCC bandh.

The government has decided to give two sets of uniform to all home guards every year. The meeting also decided to train the homeguards in the use of sophisticated weapons.

Marandi ordered that allocation of duties to home guards should be according to norms. He asked the DGP to formulate a policy in this regard.

As part of the emergency drought relief package, the Marandi ordered the construction of wells in the drought-hit villages of Palamau and Santhal Parganas.

Over 13,000 villages are reeling under the spell of drought, sources said.

District officials, who attended the meeting, said 10,032 villages in Santhal Parganas and 3,292 in Palamau are the worst affected.

Marandi ordered that a well should be constructed in each of these villages. On an average, the construction of wells would cost Rs 70,000. The gram sabhas have been entrusted with the task of selection of sites.

The government also decided to hand over the task of repair and maintenance of tube wells in each village to local boys and girls who would be paid Rs 500 and Rs 700 respectively. The public health engineering department would supervise their activities.