In Odisha's Kandhamal district, former CPI (Maoist) members like Lakhan and Karuna are rebuilding their lives as a bike mechanic and park ticket counter operator, respectively. Their transition highlights a quieter trend of Maoists surrendering, even as Chhattisgarh sees ongoing skirmishes. The Odisha government has increased rewards for surrenders, offering up to ₹1.10 crore for top-ranking members, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah aims to eradicate the movement by March 2026.