Over 300 villages on hills bordering the State will be adopted to provide basic amenities to tribal people and improve their lifestyle. Such measures will prevent them from getting attracted towards anti-social activities, said Letika Saran, Director General of Police, on Monday.
She was launching the village adoption programme at Kamarajapuram near here. The police had adopted 116 villages so far and the rest would be adopted in phases. Adoption would improve tribal people's lifestyle and ensure protection to their village. “We wish to recruit tribal youth for uniformed service. But, they should pass 10th class. Education alone will bring real change in their lives,” the DGP added.
ADGP (Law and Order) K. Radhakrishnan said that 471 border villages had been identified in the State for adoption. Village Vigilance Committees would be established in all these villages, he said.
Collector P. Muthuveeran said the district administration planned to provide sustainable income generation activities. Training in tailoring would be imparted to 500 tribal women. Goats and cows would also be given, he added.
ADGP Sri Lakshmi Prasad said that education would ensure economic uplift. DIG Sailesh Kumar Yadav said that society had a role in streamlining the tribal way of life. STF SP S.V. Karuppasamy said that only the link with the government and the people was permanent and fruitful. The government had confidence in tribals; they, in turn, should be loyal to it. “Your ignorance should not be capitalised upon by anti-social elements.”
Eleven villages – Kamarajapuram, Indira Nagar, Yanaigajam, Upputhurai, Urakundan, Karumalai Sasthapuram, Karattupatti, Paluthu, Balasubra maniapuram, Thummagundu and Thandiyakulam – have been adopted on Varushanadu hills. Superintendents of Police R. Balakrishnan and R. Dinakaran spoke.
Later, the DGP disbursed welfare assistance worth Rs.40 lakh to 1,148 persons.
