Tribal youth in Orissa being given vocational training by Rayagada police

Rayagada, Dec 19 (ANI): In an endeavour to provide employment to tribal youths to bring them into the mainstream, Orissa Police in association with private companies has undertaken a vocational training programme in Maoist-hit Rayagada District.

Superintendent of Rayagada police, Anoop Krishna, said about 50 tribal youth have been selected for training and after the completion of the training, they will be permanently employed in the firms.

"In our constant endeavour to provide employment opportunities to the rural tribal youth of Rayagada district, Rayagada district police in association with Larsen and Toubro Company has selected 50 tribal unemployed youth from the naxal infested pockets, mainly Chandrapur and Niyamgiri areas of Rayagada district. They will be provided vocational skills training for the first three months with a stipend of 4000 rupees and food and accommodation. On the successful completion of the training, they will be permanently absorbed in the company with a minimum salary of 8000 rupees plus other perks," said Krishna.

The recruitment is solely meant for the tribals as the tribal regions of the state face a high percentage of unemployment, said to be one of the causes of the local youth drifting towards the Maoist cadres.

Apart from the lack of development, poverty and rampant illiteracy afflict the tribals.

The tribals appreciated the police initiative to solve unemployment problem among them and saw the drive as a chance to better their lives.

"We were unemployed and had no work to do. The L and T Company along with the district police is helping us out, because of which our family members will also be benefited and we will also be able to develop ourselves. We would like to thank the police for helping us out," said A. Mahapatra, a tribal youth.

Maoists have of late significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa, as well as the central state of Chhattisgarh.

Despite strong initiatives taken by the Centre, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 states of the country. (ANI)