The rehabilitation scheme is part of the home ministry's multi-pronged conflict management and resolution strategy.

However, there is a rider to these benefits accruing to those who have surrendered. While the stipend will be discontinued as and when a surrendered rebel secures a government job or gainful self-employment, the fixed deposit money too will not be transferred if those coming back to the fold get employment with the government ahead of three-year maturity.

There is also a gradation to surrendered weapons and ammunition. While each universal machinegun, general purpose machinegun, Picca, rocket propelled grenade or sniper rifle will fetch the surrendering rebel Rs.25,000, an AK series gun will get him Rs.15,000 each. The surrender of SAM missiles would earn a Maoist Rs.20,000 and that of a satellite phone, Rs.10,000.

While announcing this scheme, the home ministry has already drawn up an elaborate counter-offensive operation in Maoist strongholds across central India involving 26,000 personnel drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

The offensive against the Maoists is timed for a launch in October and the objective is to secure the Maoist belts and provide governance there.