Shillong, March 16: The Meghalaya government today inaugurated a rehabilitation programme for surrendered militants.

Under this scheme, each rebel who lays down arms would be provided money for self-employment after completing a nine-month training period.

A three-month motivation camp would be organised while a monthly stipend would be provided as well as financial help for self-employment ventures.

The government would pay a grant of Rs 2,000 apart from food and accommodation during the duration of the training. Each surrendered militant would be paid Rs 75,000 towards self-employment and if a scheme proposed by him costs between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh, the money would be given in two instalments, he said.

The government would also help the former rebels obtain loans from banks or other financial institutions and assist them to start new ventures.

The programme was announced by East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner D.P. Wahlang at a function here following the recent surrender of 28 militants.

Twenty-eight rebels of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), including two women members, laid down arms before Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang.

The venue of the surrender ceremony was the first Meghalaya Police Battalion headquarters at Mawiong on Shillong’s outskirts.

With the recent surrender, the number of HNLC activists who have laid down weapons has gone up to 55.

The rebels surrendered two AK assault rifles, a revolver, three magazines of AK ammunition, a carbine, two hand grenades and 90 rounds of AK ammunition.

The ceremony was attended by Bishop Purely Lyngdoh, chairman of the Khasi-Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum, who was also the chief negotiator for the rebels.

The former militants used to operate from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. They said they were disillusioned with their leaders’ apathy towards their predicament.

One of them added that they had to live in constant fear and insecurity.

As a result, many youths decided to surrender before the government in the hope that they could join the mainstream again.

A rehabilitation advisory committee has also been floated, which would suggest proper training modules for the surrendered rebels and assist them in their start-up ventures. Lapang assured the former militants that they would be given adequate rehabilitation measures, adding that Meghalaya would soon attract investment from outside, with peace returning to the state.

He also expressed the hope that many more youths of the rebel outfits would come back and surrender before the government. Lapang also called upon HNLC leader Bobby Marwein to lay down arms.

Home minister Robert Lyngdoh said the climate of fear engendered by militancy in the state had brought all development to a standstill.