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In the wake of massive surrender of militants from different insurgent outfits in the state in several spells of late, Assam government is finding it hard to mobilise resources to take care of the Himalayan task of rehabilitation of these surrendered militants who have responded to the call for peace from the government.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday knocked at the door of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking a special package to fund rehabilitation of about 6,000 surrendered militants in the state.
"I requested the prime minister for funds to rehabilitate the surrendered militants numbering around 6,000 by providing skill development training so that they are gainfully and meaningfully employed. The prime minister agreed with what I proposed and assured me that he would take up the matter with the Planning Commission," he informed.
Gogoi also assured both the prime minister and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to take firm steps to prevent Maoists' attempt to make inroads into Assam in two separate meetings with the two leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday.
According to a source in the CM's office, Gogoi told the prime minister that Assam government was taking all the steps possible to prevent Maoists from making inroads in to Assam.
The chief minister briefed the PM about the ongoing peace talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa.
During his meeting with Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day, Gogoi discussed matters regarding total rehabilitation of surrendered militants and the steps being initiated by the state government to reduce infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate.
"I apprised her about the steps taken by the government to identify the areas where the incidence of IMR and MMR is high, especially the riverine and tea garden areas, and to reduce the IMR and MMR rates. The law and order situation in the state also figured in the discussion," Gogoi said.