From our Correspondent

SILCHAR, July 17: The aspect of winning hearts and minds of the people in counter insurgency operation cannot be over-emphasized. The aspiration of local has to be understood by security forces and timely action is to be incorporated to develop coordination. Keeping this aspect in mind, 25 Assam Rifles planned to help local youth and surrendered cadres to begin a new life and a great future ahead.

Surrendering oneself is surely a new beginning and the first major step towards leading a normal life, but the task ahead is big, the question how to join society and face the situation of life ahead. At this stage, vocational training can be a great help to surrendered cadres. One such endeavour is the rehabilitation programme started by 25 Assam Rifles to help the surrendered cadres to join the mainstream of society by teaching them and inculcating the skills required for various professions like electrician, welder, auto mechanic, electronics, computer basics and wireman.

The Assam Rifles were able to convince Industrial Training Institutes of Haflong to impart training to surrendered cadres and further contacts have been made with construction companies to provide employment to the passing out cadres. In the first batch that started from Monday, around 35 cadres underwent training in various trades.

The initial batch consisted of 11 cadres of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), 11 cadres of Hmar Peoples Convention (Democratic), 10 cadres of the Dima Halam Daogah (Nunisa) and 10 cadres of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) group. More such batches will be trained based on the success of this pilot project. Leaders of surrendered cadres welcomed this as a great step towards helping the newly surrendered persons.

The Commander of 22 Sector Assam Rifles has shown a great vision and foresight by increasing and facilitating this programme. The programme commenced with a grand inaugural ceremony on Monday at Haflong Garrison ground. The dignitaries present on the occasion included Debojeet Thousen, Chief Executive Member, DHAC, Brig Gajinder Singh, Commander, 22 Sector Assam Rifles, Project Managers of NKC Pvt Ltd, HCC Pvt Ltd, Simplex construction Company, Col P S Arora, Commandant 25 Assam Rifles and Shri Mazumdar, Superintendent, ITI, Haflong.

All the dignitaries hoped that in the years to come, this noble step would certainly prove a milestone in establishing and maintaining peace and tranquillity in Dima Hasao District.