JALUKBARI, March 24 - Swabalamban, a rehabilitation training programme for surrendered militants, was inaugurated at the State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development (SIPRD) complex, Kahikuchi today. Swabalamban is a scheme undertaken by the State Home Department in association with SIPRD, Assam. Around 16,000 surrendered militants (ULFA and NDFB) will benefit from the scheme.
Under Swabalamban, initially 102 cadres (surrendered) will be given five days� training on various skills like organic farming, DTP, cold storage chain, pisciculture, painting, electricity works, etc. The entire batch of 16,000 surrendered militants will be given training on various skills in phases, in three years� time, as was announced by Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in his budget speech of 2017-18.
MGVK Bhanu, Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, in his address, said, �The surrendered cadres are very emotional and sensitive and therefore, we have to deal with them sincerely through this project of Swabalamban. Most of the surrendered cadres are either rickshaw-pullers or daily labourers, as the government could not meet their expectations. And through this unique scheme, the government is committed to delivering the promises.�
DGP Mukesh Sahay said, �The scheme itself defines its main objective to be self-dependence because it will bring self-respect and can contribute something valuable for the nation, and I hope that this scheme will encourage the other militants to come to the mainstream society. It is not important whether one is rich or not, but one should be self-dependent, which is the main objective of this rehabilitation scheme.� He further expressed the hope that this small step would be a giant leap for the future.
Pallab Bhattacharjya, ADGP, SB, in his speech, said, �The objective of the scheme is to train the surrendered extremists. The project will try to build up these surrendered cadres both mentally and physically. The outcome of this project will have a great impact on these cadres that will at least restrict them in joining the organisation outside the nation.�
Around 650 surrendered cadres were present in the training programme today. Hemanta Narzary, Principal Home Secretary, Government of Assam; AMM Zakir, Director SIPRD; Bijoy Hazarika, All Assam Ex-ULFA Coordination Committee secretary and Ranjan Daimary (Junior), coordinator (NDFB), were present in the daylong programme.
