Former Maoists trade years of conflict for livelihood and a stable future
For those who spent years underground, the greatest adjustment has not been surrendering their weapons but learning to build an ordinary life. Today, many former
For those who spent years underground, the greatest adjustment has not been surrendering their weapons but learning to build an ordinary life. Today, many former Maoists are rebuilding their lives one day at a time, trading years of conflict for livelihoods, families, and the hope of a stable future. One such story is that of Madakam Idumamma alias Idimi. In March 2022, after traversing the Karregutta hills along the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana-Chhattisgarh borders for five years, she called it quits and joined the mainstream. A native of Pungutta village of Pega panchayat in Polavaram district, she was recruited by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) at the age of 16. She later served as a dalam member of the Charla-Sabari Area Committee and as a member of the Local Operation Squad, carrying a.303 rifle. Looking back on those years, Idimi says when I visit the nearby Edugurallapalli shandy, where other surrendered Maoists from our area sometimes meet, nobody there suspects or questions our movements. Maybe it is because we choose to lead a peaceful life in harmony. “...Five months ago, I was blessed with a baby girl, Saranya,” says a happy Idimi. While surrender marks the end of armed conflict, rebuilding a life is often a longer and more uncertain journey. Government rehabilitation packages provide financial assistance and livelihood support, but several surrendered Maoists say reintegration remains a challenge, with many facing social and economic difficulties. Financial assistance The rehabilitation programme has gained traction in recent years. According to the Andhra Pradesh Police, as many as 118 Maoists surrendered between January 2024 and March 2026. “Among those who surrendered were CPI (Maoist) central committee member Chelluri Narayana Rao, alias Suresh, two State committee members, and six district committee members,” according to a top official who requested anonymity.
According to the office of the Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police, ₹1.2 crore has been disbursed as compensation, while more than ₹1 crore has been proposed for disbursement to surrendered Maoists by June 2027. The financial assistance is provided under the revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme for Left-Wing Extremists, introduced in 2013, under the scheme, high-ranking Maoist cadres are entitled an immediate grant of ₹2.5 lakh and middle- and lower-rank cadres ₹1.5 lakh, upon surrender before the State government concerned. The scheme also provides a monthly stipend of ₹4,000 for three years for vocational training, apart from special incentives for surrendering weapons. In many cases, surrendered Maoists, particularly those from the lower ranks, are arguably unaware of these entitlements. Against this backdrop, Dirdha Lakshmaiah, who dropped out of school in Class IX, says he was recruited by the Maoists in 2016 and surrendered in 2019. Now 25 years old, he makes a living by farming. “I am prepared to undergo any skill training programme to earn a livelihood. I am even determined to resume my studies, which were interrupted after I joined the Maoists. Otherwise, I would be happy to work as a tourist guide if our government introduces a scheme similar to the one in Telangana State,” he says. Three years after his surrender, he fell in love with Adamamma, a girl from his own tribe, the Muria, and village on the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border. “In the deep forest, our three-acre land is entirely rain-fed. We grow paddy for our family and cereals during the rabi season. Other than this, we are not equipped with any other skills to earn a livelihood,” says Lakshmaiah. Career opportunities To address such concerns, the police say they are working with both government and private companies to create employment opportunities for surrendered Maoists.
The BriefWire