TURA: Five hundred former cadres, including those from the disbanded ANVC and UALA and GNLA, are all set to start their life afresh as the three-month long skill deve-lopment programme ended with an impressive valedictory programme at SMELC Building in Tura on Saturday. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma attended the function as the chief guest in the presence of the Parliamentary Secretaries, Noverfield Marak and Ashahel D. Shira, South Tura Legislator John Leslee K. Sangma, Mahendraganj Legislator Dikkanchi D. Shira and Tura MDC Rupert M. Sangma and gave away the certificates to the cadres. The team of senior police officials who have been taking care of the former cadres, spiritual counselors and officials of the line departments who had been giving them training on various trades were also present and were honored with appreciation certificates by the chief minister and other dignitaries. The chief minister in his address termed the process ‘a breakthrough that had been eluding us for a long time’ , adding that it was the outcome of the collective desire of the people in the western part of the State for restoring peace in the region.
Stating that a number of contentious issues had led to many youths taking up arms, Mukul said that there was a need to address and narrow down the gap of the disparity in accessing various services in the social sector. He stated that if these issues were not resolved, “we will slip back and more problems will arise in future”.
He congratulated the former cadres for having the courage to withdraw from their respective organizations and said that the training programme was just a tip of the iceberg of many good things to come. He advised the former cadres to use the rehabilitation package that would be given to them as “seed” money for starting their entrepreneurial ventures and called upon them to be partners with the government and to send a positive message to their former cadres through their success. In a bid to dispel the concern of those who are living in militant-affected areas, he highlighted the huge livelihood scope in such areas due to availability of land in abundance. He informed about the government’s proposal for tourism projects in the most difficult areas like Nokrek and Durama range across the Simsang River and also about the aquaculture scheme earmarked separately for these former cadres who have undergone the skill development training. “When we look at opportunities available in our backyard there is no room to be poverty stricken”, the chief minister said adding that there is enough work available for everyone in the State and there should be no reason to go outside in search of opportunities.
Mukul also spoke against those people who criticized the government for this initiative saying, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future”. He said the training programme was conceptualized so that these men can assimilate themselves in the society as productive and effective citizens and called upon the former cadres to disconnect themselves with the past, become successful entrepreneurs and be a model for others.
The first of its kind in the country, the skill training was given to the former militants in different modules in three different designated locations and simultaneously were also given intensive sessions of psychological and spiritual counseling so as to facilitate a meaningful and worthwhile rehabilitation. The training was facilitated by IBDLP team who would continue to give these cadres a hand-holding support in their future endeavours.
Parliamentary Secretary, Urban Affairs, Noverfield Marak, South Tura Legislator John Leslee Sangma, CID, Western Range, S.S. Kynjing and Deputy Commissioner also addressed the gathering, while former leaders of the disbanded ANVC and UALA, Vicky Rose Sangma and Novembirth Marak,