J& K Return Policy for Militants

The draft return policy for the return of the militants is under the consideration of the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Components of the Policy

• The draft policy aims to address the need for rehabilitation at a policy level through a two-pronged approach: reformative measures and opportunities of livelihood.
• The draft policy includes a provision for a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 for a militant who surrenders with a view to encourage the militants to join the mainstream.
• Jobs, reformative measures, and a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 are the key points of a new reintegration policy draft that is under the consideration of the J&K government.

The draft policy under the consideration of the government is the revised version of earlier initiatives but with a renewed focus on socio-economic re-integration. The policy will not cover militants found to have been involved in heinous crimes.

2004 Rehabilitation Policy

• The 20004 rehabilitation policy sought to provide “facility to those terrorists who undergo a change of heart and eschew the path of violence and who also accept the integrity of India and Indian Constitution to encourage them to join the mainstream and lead a normal life.
• The policy made provisions provide vocational training for militants who surrender if they wished to pursue a trade and a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for the first three years.
• Establishment of counselling centres “where all the returnees along with their wives and children would be lodged for a period of three months or for such longer time as would be necessary.

But these counselling centres were never established. The policy was successful in motivating militants to return.

2010 Rehabilitation Policy

The 2010 rehabilitation policy focused on facilitating the return of ex-militants from J&K who had crossed over between January 1989 and December 2009 for training but later gave up insurgent activities due to a change of heart and are willing, to return to the state.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2019