The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would adopt five villages in Maoist-hit Rohtas and Kaimur districts to prevent people from falling into the rebel recruitment trap.

Residents of Badalgarh, Kodiari, Chunhatta and Madhukuta villages in Rohtas district and Jarpa village in Kaimur district would benefit under the CRPF’s new programme. The 47th battalion of the central security force would help set up solar plants to provide electricity to the houses in the villages.

The villages are located on the Kaimur plateau, a stronghold of the rebels. The deputy commandant of the 47th battalion, Sanjiv Choudhary, said: “A proposal has been sent to the inspector-general, Bihar sector headquarters, in Patna. We hope it would be approved. Such a step is being taken for the first time in the Shahabad region (near Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand borders),” he added.

The force would help set up a computer-learning centre and impart professional training to make people economically reliant. There is also a provision to provide education kits to students, including books and stationery items. Women would be given sewing machines free of cost.

A senior police officer posted at the CPRF’s sector headquarters in Patna said initially one of the five villages would be selected and the facilities would be provided to the residents. “A list of five villages has been sent to the sector headquarters. But we have decided to adopt one of them right now,” he said.

The officer said the development schemes as well as the anti-Naxalite operations would go hand-in-hand.