CM to distribute certificates to cadres who completed skill development training
TURA: They were once trained in thick jungle terrains to handle an assortment of weapons and passed out with ‘distinction’ in the art of abduction and extortion. Not anymore.
As many as 433 former rebels from five militant organizations in Garo Hills are preparing for a passing out parade of a different kind- that of a skilled worker seeking honest employment without the presence of a gun.
This large group of militants from the GNLA, ASAK, UALA, LAEF and the now disbanded ANVC outfit are completing a one-of-a-kind rehabilitation programme in Garo Hills which will help them to step out into the world with a promise of livelihood after getting trained in various skill development trainings.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will hand over the certificates to the cadres who completed the skill development training on October 29th in the SMELC building in Dakopgre, Tura.
The former militants underwent a series of the rehabilitation process which included spiritual and psychological counselling besides interest based skill development training after profiling of their choices.
The training was imparted at three different venues, namely, Baljek airport in Jengjal for cadres of the UALA, ASAK, AMEF and LAEF, 2nd MLP Battalion headquarters in Goeragre (Rongram) for surrendered GNLA rebels and the SMELC complex in Tura (Dakopgre) for the ANVC cadres.
The experts entrusted with imparting the training at the three centres revealed that a majority of the former rebels showed strong inclination for modules of agriculture and horticulture, piggery and poultry. The number of cadres from each outfit which underwent the training programme were 53 from GNLA, 50 from UALA, 4 each from ASAK and LAEF and ANVC 169 (first batch) and 153 (second batch).
The skill profiling was done by trained IBDLP members and skill module training was conducted by line department teams.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi has acknowledged the efforts put in by the psychological and spiritual counsellors and the commandant of the 2nd MLP Battalion for having taken the extra mile to make the training programme a success.
