225 ex-Maoists given jobs: CM

MP | 2 May 2017 | Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said as many as 225 Maoists who surrendered have been enrolled for employment as per the state government norms.

"Our government issued notification for the surrender and rehabilitation of Naxalites (Maoists) with incentives, providing gainful employment and entrepreneurial opportunities so that they become part of the mainstream," Banerjee said. 

The Trinamool Congress supremo said so far, in Bengal, 328 Left Wing extremists have surrendered. This includes 111 Maoists in 2017 (till date). 

"Already 205 surrenderers have been enrolled as Special Home Guards. Now, 11 more are being enrolled as Special Home Guards and another nine cases are in process. Thus, total of 225 surrenderers will be enrolled for employment till date," she said. 

"Apart from employment, surrendering Maoists get financial incentives as well as assistance for housing, medical and child education, as per norms set up by the government," she added. 

The Chief Minister set out for her tour to South Dinajpur and Malda districts of North Bengal on Tuesday. 

Banerjee will be holding administrative review meetings in both the districts and a public meeting in Malda. 

She boarded the Shatabdi Express from Howrah station in the afternoon and reached Gourbanga later in the day. 

The Chief Minister had to wait for some time as the train was late. She will be staying at Gour Bhavan in Malda. 

On Wednesday morning, she will be leaving for South Dinajpur where she will hold an administrative meeting. She is scheduled to return to Gour Bhavan in Malda on Wednesday night itself. The next day, on May 4, Banerjee has two major programmes in Malda. 

She will be holding the administrative review meeting of the Malda district on May 4. After discussing different issues with the district officials, the Chief Minister will also address a public rally from where she will be distributing different benefits among people of the district. 

Chief Secretary Basudeb Bandyopadhyay, Home Secretary Malay De and Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purakayastha have also left for Malda in Shatabdi Express on Tuesday afternoon. Like all other administrative review meetings, the senior officers will also be attending the meetings in both Malda and South Dinajpur districts. 

Sources said that the Chief Minister had taken several steps for development of both the North Bengal districts and she would be taking stock of the progress of the ongoing projects. She would also give directions to expedite certain programmes for the benefit of the people. 

After the administrative review meeting, the Chief Minister would also hold a meeting of the representatives from different private hospitals and nursing homes in the districts. The state government has prepared a data containing details about the private health centres and it includes allegations of medical negligence that rose against them. 

At the same time, she would also be inaugurating and lay foundation stones of some new projects in Malda. 

The police have taken necessary measures to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in the districts during the visit of the Chief Minister.