As many as 220 tribal youths from nine districts of Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh took part in the 10th Tribal Youth Exchange Programme at Aarey Colony in Goregaon.
The programme aimed at providing the youth from Naxal-targeted areas a feeling of empowerment and security, eliminating the sense of alienation from the country.
The week-long event, organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), started on December 4.
The participants came from Ranchi, Latehar, Khunti, Simdega, Giridih, Gumala, Palamu, Gadhwa, Lohardaga, West Sighbhum in Jharkhand, and Kanker in Chhatisgarh. The Central Reserve Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs provided the resource personnel.
Rani Trivedi, a member of the board of governors, NYK, Delhi, said, “We usually conduct such programmes in metro cities to show the participants how the cities work and to educate them about employment opportunities. They will then want to get involved and be a part of the society.”
The participants were divided as per their districts, with 20 from each in the age group 18 to 29 being clubbed together. Each day started with stress management and meditation exercises conducted by Heartfulness Institute. The annual exchange programme, first introduced in 2007, has previously been held in Pune, Shimla, and Mysore.
Guneshwar Sahu (24), one of the participants, is doing his masters in rural development in Jharkhand’s Palamu district. “The tribal community members experienced Mumbai for the first time. We were made aware of our rights. We learned a lot about development and its importance. After completing my studies, I am planning to work in Mumbai as a social worker and also apply for a government job,” he said.
Yashwant Mankhedkar, district youth coordinator, NYK, said the participants were guided in community and personality development and recruitment in the armed forces, and visited Navy Nagar and Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Rajya Sabha MP Amar Sable, who was a guest at the concluding ceremony, said, “The tribal community has long been neglected, and the areas undeveloped. Naxalites have targeted these undeveloped areas. If these areas are given attention and developed by providing proper connectivity, schools and hospitals, then they come out of adversity.”
