Bhubaneswar, July 14: A top-ranking officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) today appealed to Maoists to return to the mainstream and shun the path of violence.
Special director-general (DG) (operation and works), CRPF P.M. Nair, who was here to attend a skill development programme on the CRPF campus, said it was time for the rebels to give up arms and live like normal citizens.
Nair also sought to make it clear that members of the force retaliated only when attacked by the Maoists. “Our jawans open fire when they are shot at,” the officer said giving details of the skill development programme that involves training of tribal youths in 18 Maoist-affected districts in Odisha.
The CRPF group centre in Bhubaneswar had initiated the skill development programme for tribal youths last year with two pilot projects. Later, several other vocational training programmes such as training to become private security guards, data entry operators, plumbers, electrician, mason and tailors were added to the list.
Deputy inspector-general (DIG), Group Centre Bhubaneswar Subrat Mishra said that during this period the CRPF had been able to create 250 skilled workers.
“The ministry of home affairs provides the funds for this programme. Besides, we have tied up with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and educational institutes to provide the necessary training,” said Mishra.
The DG said that the CRPF first conducted a market survey to know the types of employment facilities available in these tribal districts where Maoist activities were rampant. “We even conducted a survey about the type of work these youths can do. We accordingly picked the unemployed youths from these areas and tried to create willingness among them and their parents,” said Nair.
The DG also added that besides providing training, the CRPF had been arranging for the placement facilities of these trained boys and girls. “Before providing training we first ensure there are employers to recruit them and then we go for their training,” he said.
Parvati Singh, a tribal girl from Baripada, said she was lucky to get training in tailoring here. “I now have a job.”
