Calcutta, Aug. 12: Mamata Banerjee today announced a package for Maoists who surrender, promising government jobs and increasing manifold the financial incentives the Left regime had offered to rebels laying down arms.

The announcement came a day after Maoists fought a gun battle with the CRPF near West Midnapore’s Lalgarh, the first such encounter in Mamata’s regime. “There was an encounter between the Maoists and the central forces yesterday. Only those who want to create obstacles in the peace process in Jungle Mahal can commit such acts. I repeat that good sense should prevail,” the chief minister said at Writers’ Buildings today after announcing the package.

The scheme includes the offer of government jobs for rebels laying down arms. “Government jobs will be provided to those who surrender,” the chief minister said. A Writers’ source said he could not recall a similar scheme anywhere else in the country. Sources in Maoist-affected Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh said these states did not offer government jobs to surrendered Maoists.

The scheme that the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee regime had offered to the Maoists in July 2010 had proved a damp squib with only eight rebels surrendering.

On a day the chief minister announced the rehabilitation package, her predecessor warned the government about rebels regrouping in Jungle Mahal and suggested tough measures against them.

“We have information that Maoists are regrouping in areas such as Goaltore, Salboni, Lalgarh and Nayagram. The government should control the Maoists,” Bhattacharjee told a CPM rally at Rani Rashmoni Avenue this afternoon.

The scheme announced today will be funded by the Centre, like in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

A screening committee, comprising senior officers of the state police and the central paramilitary forces, has been formed to monitor the process of surrender.

“The incentives offered earlier were not enough. People faced problems. We have increased the provisions manifold. For example, earlier, Rs 15,000 used to be paid for each surrendered AK-47 rifle. We have raised the amount to Rs 1 lakh,” Mamata said.

The package, which primarily deals with incentives for laying down arms and ammunitions, marks a significant jump from the earlier one (see chart).

Some of the incentives, such as a fixed deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh for a period of three years in the name of every surrendered Maoist and a stipend of Rs 2,000 for 36 months from the date of laying down arms, have not been changed.

Mamata said those Maoists who have been accused of “heinous crimes” such as murder, extortion and robbery would “be tried in court”.

A note released by the state home department today said the government’s package was in keeping with the revised guidelines issued by the Union home ministry’s Naxalite-management division.

The chief minister said the notification for the revised package had been issued. The Centre has given the state Rs 90 crore for development of Maoist-affected areas.

Home department sources said the Maoists could surrender before any unit of the central forces, a district magistrate, superintendent of police, range deputy inspector-general of police, IG (operations), IG (intelligence branch) and a sub-divisional police officer. The screening committee will decide who are eligible for the package within 15 days of surrender.

Mamata rued the fact that schools, colleges and hospitals could not function properly in Maoist-affected areas because of violence. “Doctors are scared of going there (Jungle Mahal). This situation cannot continue… The government will help those who want to come forward and work for the welfare of the society. Security will be provided to the Maoists who surrender and their families. We will encourage them to return to the mainstream,” Mamata said.

A member of the panel of interlocutors set up to facilitate talks with Maoists said: “This government is much more sincere in its approach to solve the Maoist problem in Jungle Mahal. So the likelihood of the scheme’s success is much higher.”