Munger, March 11: After the Munger district administration and the police, it was the turn of Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour, to extend helping hand to the people of the Naxalite-hit hinterland.

A three-day training camp on “income-generating opportunities through development of small-scale entrepreneurs in agriculture” is being organised under Rashtriya Vikas Yojana.

This would be the third assistance from as many corners for the people of the district. A few months ago, Munger district administration had launched a goat-rearing project for the people of some panchyats at rebel-hit Dharhara. The Munger police then organised free health camps and distributed free learning kits among children, with an aim to boost education. The police had said the act was an attempt to come close to the people of the village.

The three-day training camp was inaugurated by M.K. Choudhury, the principal of Bihar Veterinary college, Patna, a constituent unit of BAU, on March 10 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Rajesh Kumar, public relations officer of BAU, said: “About 25 tribal inhabitants of Karaily and Kophapar Saradhi hamlets falling under Naxalite-hit Bangalwa panchayat at Dharhara block in the district were selected for taking training in hatcheries, keeping up honey bees and cultivation of mushroom. During the first two days, the scientists of BAU and KVK, Munger would impart training and on the concluding day of the camp, they would be provided poultry birds, kits for honey bee keeping and kits for mushroom cultivation along with free one-and-half kilogram of mushroom seeds.”

“The main aim of the camp was to train the rural folks so that they could have better opportunities for income generation. A phase-wise projects would be launched in other parts of Munger,” he said.

The most salient feature of the project was Banraja and Grampriya — both improved breeds of poultry birds prepared by Bihar Veterinary College, Patna and BAU, Sabour, Bhagalpur.

“We will provide more than 400 such birds to the 25 participants in the training camp tomorrow,” said Choudhary. He said with such a variety of poultry birds, people would enjoy a better standard of living.

Cash in       

Seminar focus

Income-generating opportunities

Who will benefit?

25 tribal inhabitants of Karaily and Kophapar Saradi hamlets

Learning phase

Two-day training

Distribution of poultry birds

Kits will be provided for honeybee keeping

Kits for mushroom cultivation

Free distribution of mushroom seeds

400 Banraja and Grampriya breeds of poultry birds to be provided to participants