Ranchi, Oct. 28: Teenager Yishu Lakra from Gumla would have been hapless fodder for Naxalites as a forced recruit. Instead, today he is learning to make dye cuts at the elite Indo-Danish Tool Room in Adityapur, Seraikela-Kharsawan.
Since August, around 330 youths, including girls, from rebel-hit pockets of Gumla, Lohardaga and East Singhbhum districts — 120, 110 and 100, respectively — are being trained at the shop floor for technical jobs. While 270 students are in Adityapur, 60 — all from East Singhbhum — have been sent to the Indo-German Tool Room in Indore.
Fully sponsored by Centre’s integrated action plan (IAP) scheme for 60 rebel-hit districts, including 14 in Jharkhand, the vocational training has earned kudos from the Planning Commission.
In a video-conferencing between senior plan panel consultant Ranjan Chatterjee, member secretary Sudha Pillai and state officials last month, Chatterjee said the project should be replicated in other districts.
It is set to extend its ambit in Lohardaga’s hardcore rebel blocks of Pashrar, Senha and Kisko by enrolling 100 more youths, district commissioner Ratan Kumar told The Telegraph today.
Those who are existing students — 95 per cent are tribals — can’t believe how their life has taken a turn for the better.
“I am a student of the one-year condensed tool and dye making course and will get a diploma at the end of it,” enthused Yishu. “Then, we’ll bag jobs in the industrial hub here or anywhere,” he added with the wonder of seeing horizons open up before him.
His classmates Basant Kumar Yadav, Sheela Kumari, Mamta Kumari, among others, nodded eagerly.
“We ensured admission of 120 Gumla students from far-flung rebel blocks like Chainpur, Ghaghra, Bishunpur, etc at the tool room in Adityapur. Now, we are getting deluged with requests for more admissions,” Gumla DC Rahul Sharma said.
The state received Rs 770 crore under IAP meant for 14 rebel-hit districts, including Lohardaga, Gumla and East Singhbhum. Each district is entitled to Rs 55 crore in two fiscals — 2010-11 and 2011-12. A source from Gumla district administration said that for each student, Rs 1.02 lakh for the one-year course and Rs 1.60 lakh for the two-year one were disbursed under IAP.
While technical aspects include tool and dye making and quality inspection — the latter the chosen favourite of girls — are being studied in all seriousness, students also enjoy the soft skills such as English-speaking, computer know-how, among others.
“In addition, students get free food and lodging, drawing instruments and a monthly stipend of Rs 350,” said IDTR senior manager (administration) Ashutosh Kumar.
