Bhubaneswar, March 1: The revised compensation package offered by the Odisha government to Maoists who have agreed to lay downs arms is expected to trigger a spate of surrenders in the state.

Senior officials here think that the majority of the rebels who join the Red brigade more out of livelihood compulsions than ideological convictions would find the new pecuniary benefits irresistible.

“A hardcore rebel now gets Rs 2.5 lakh in cash, which is far more attractive compared to the 2006 compensation policy. The high point of that policy was an interest free bank loan of Rs 2 lakh. The loan, however, meant little as banks most of the time tried to fob off surrendered rebels whose ability to repay was always in doubt,” said an officer.

What makes the new surrender policy even more alluring for radicals tired of constantly being on the run is the emphasis on cash even in matters of allotment of land and houses to the rebels for rehabilitation.

Given past experience, when the targeted beneficiaries faced problems taking possession of the allotted plots and houses, the government now plans to pay them an amount of equivalent value in cash.

Sources said the revision of the package followed a string of cases in Keonjhar district where the surrendered rebels, mostly women, did not get the benefits they were promised by the government.

Some of them openly vented spleen against the authorities before the media causing acute embarrassment to the government.

In fact, there have also been instances of rebels picking up arms again after surrendering, as they felt frustrated at the government’s failure to keep its word.

“The goof ups by the state authorities in this regard also exposed the surrendered rebels to danger from their former colleagues, who considered them a threat. Such cases invariably took a toll on the credibility of the government,” said a senior officer.

However, officials are confident that things would change for the better with the government coming up with a more attractive package with its emphasis on cash, which is always a big lure in such cases.

“We have had more than 40 surrenders in the state during the last five years. The number is expected to double in the coming days,” said an official.