India, Feb. 11 -- The Odisha government has revised its surrender and rehabilitation scheme for Maoists, introducing stringent eligibility criteria in a departure from the broad welfare approach announced in November last year. The new policy notified on Monday restricts benefits exclusively to surrendered Maoists, who were active within Odisha or are the state natives.

The move comes amid concerns that the earlier scheme offered better financial packages than those in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, lacked clear eligibility safeguards, and risked becoming a magnet for rebels from other states seeking to exploit higher financial payouts.

Officials said the November 2025 policy inadvertently created conditions where Maoists with no operationa...