Holding out hope

Bishunpur (Gumla), Sept. 21: At a time when government jobs are scarce and unemployment reigns supreme in the districts of Jharkhand, over 500 educated youths have charted a route for better living — not just for themselves, but also for others. They have turned entrepreneurs.

Bee-keeping, producing organic fertilisers and herbal medicines, nurturing mushrooms, processing food, designing carpets and aluminium items and growing saplings are some of the things that are keeping them busy as well as rewarding their pockets handsomely. And they have the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to thank for this.

Two years ago, Nabard, in association with the Vikas Bharati Bishunpur — an NGO, had embarked on a project to provide vocational training to educated youths. The twin objective was to do away with unemployment and purge the region of Naxalism. And both have been achieved to large extent, say NGO officials.

Surrounded by thick forests, Gumla, some 120km from the state capital, is a hotbed of Naxalite activities. The bane of unemployment in the region is a boon for the rebels who succeed in wooing the youth to join their group. “Not anymore,” promised Vikas Bharati secretary Ashok Bhagat.

“We have weaned 500 youths off extreme ideologies. They have become entreprenuers and are earning a decent living. They will not embrace Naxalism simply because they don’t need to,” he said.

Chief general manager of Nabard K.C. Shashidhar couldn’t agree more. He said local banks had been directed to offer soft loans to the clutch of budding entrepreneurs.

The beneficiaries of the Nabard initiative are happy, too. “I earn Rs 3,000-3,500 a month by selling mushrooms. It is in high demand in the local market,” said 22-year-old Lalita Kumari, a resident of Bishunpur block. A Class XII passout, Lalita underwent the training and started growing mushroom in her backyard. She has even hired a local lad to transport her produce to the market at regular intervals. Lalita’s neighbour, Samir Oraon, is busy producing organic fertilisers. “I sell them among farmers at Rs 1,500 a tractor-load. I produce enough fertilisers to load four-five tractors a month,” he said.

And Lalita and Samir are not alone. There are hundreds like them who are determined to change their lives for the better.

Praising their dedication, Shashidhar said: “Today, every village boasts more than 50 government projects that can change the economic and social status of its people. But these would prove futile if the people themselves do not come forward and make an endeavour to change their own fortune.”