Bhubaneswar, February 23: Maoist activities have come down substantially in Odisha, and only 40 members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) are active in the State, the Assembly was informed on Monday.

“Around 40 Maoists are operating in small groups across certain areas of the districts of Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Balangir, and Bargarh,” Chief Minister Mohan Charna Majhi informed the House.

“Maoist extremism in Odisha is significantly declining. As per the Government of India’s Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, only Kandhamal district has been placed in the “Other LWE Affected District” category. Eight other districts -Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Boudh, and Balangir - have been categorised under the “Legacy & Thrust” district category,” informed the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, 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 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.

After substantially increasing reward money for surrendered left-wing extremists (LWEs) in November last year, the Mohan Charan Majhi Government has relaxed the eligibility criteria for surrendering Maoist cadres.

The State police, in coordination with Central security forces, have stepped up their efforts to bring Maoist activities down to zero by March 31, a deadline set by the Union Home Ministry.