Muzaffarpur, Feb. 24: Rajendra Agriculture University (RAU), Pusa, Samastipur has taken up the mantle to give youths-turned-Maoists a new identity.

The varsity, besides conducting an innovative research and exploring ways of scientific modes of cultivation and production, has chalked out a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate people, who have joined the Maoists. Rebels, who are willing to surrender, will be covered under this plan.

The Maoist menace has emerged as a serious threat to the law and order situation in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and West Champaran districts, located along the India-Nepal border.

RAU has initiated the programme to contain the rebel menace and weaken the organisation. The university has outlined a plan to impart industrial training for fisheries and poultry farming, especially for those youths who picked up arms because of the propaganda by Maoists.

Mewa Lal Choudhary, the vice-chancellor of RAU, said: “The plan, so far, has proved a big hit in Munger.”

Buoyed by the success of the plan, RAU wants to execute it in the districts of north Bihar, which, of late, has turned into a hub of extremist activities. Immediate measures have to be taken to prevent the surge of Maoists by offering youths employment.

Maoists, who surrender before the district police and shun the path of extremism will be provided necessary training to run fisheries and poultry framing, said Choudhary. He said: “After training they would be financed by banks to start farming at their place of choice. RAU has a broad network for training such people at the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) spread out in the districts of north Bihar.”

The state government has appreciated the initiative of RAU and the officials of the university would shortly hold a meeting with the zonal inspector-general of police, Muzaffarpur and the superintendents of police of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and West Champaran districts to implement the plan effectively. Choudhary said: “The station house officers of Maoist-affected police stations in the district accompanied by co-odinators of the KVKs have been asked to identify the people to be provided industrial training in north Bihar.”

He said: “The women belonging to self-help groups formed at the rural levels will also be trained at various KVKs. In recent times, the rebels have allured and exploited women and great emphasis is being given to prevent the rural women from joining the rebel outfit. The women would be trained for mushroom farming.”

He added: “The men will be trained in industrial skill for running fisheries, poultry and other agricultural farming. The banks would provide them necessary loans. RAU will also facilitate financial support to these people.”

Police will keep a strict surveillance on the activities of the youths and persons who are rehabilitated as precautionary measures.