HILLONG: Aiming to prevent youths from the rural areas from taking up arms by joining militant groups, the State Government is now mulling to set up more residential schools at the block level.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, while admitted to the fact that the tendency of youths to join militant outfits is on the rise, advocated on the need to set up more residential schools in the blocks.
“For such an initiative, resources will prove to be a challenge and therefore we would like the support of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Dr Sangma said during a high-level meeting to review the overall law and order scenario in the State, which was attended by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and senior government officials on Tuesday evening.
Besides setting up schools in the blocks, the State Government is also contemplating to seek special package for Meghalaya from the Centre to promote sporting activities to veer the youths
away from the path of violence.
According to Dr Sangma, the intention of the State Government is to have substantial investment in sporting activities for the youths. The Chief Minister also informed that the Government is keen on providing skill upgradation training to nearly two lakh youths of the State.
“Children as young as 12 years are joining the militant outfits as they are often lured by these organizations,” the Chief Minister noted.
It may be reminded that reports have been surfacing from time to time on use of child soldiers by Garo Hills based militant outfits including the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and the breakaway faction of the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B).