KORAPUT: Knowledge is power. Koraput district police have adopted the adage to win hearts and minds of tribals. With an aim to rehabilitate surrendered Naxals, the
Koraput police facilitated admission of 16 former Maoists in
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Monday.
The 16 surrendered Maoists, including four women joined a six-month bridge course offered by IGNOU.
Police said after successful completion of the course, the former Maoists will be eligible to get direct admission in Bachelor of Arts courses under the IGNOU.
The bridge course also known as Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP), is offered to those students who want to get a bachelor’s degree but do not have the requisite 10, +2 qualification. No formal qualification is required to join the bridge course but one has to be literate and at least 18 years old.
“Those youth had joined the Maoist organisation at some point of time. They shunned the path of violence. Though they have been rehabilitated as per the surrender policy of the state government, we thought of empowering them through education,” said SP (Koraput) Kanwar Vishal Singh.
According to the SP, the surrendered Naxals and their supporters were counselled for several rounds and after they realised the benefits of education, they agreed. All the enrolled former Naxals belonged to the worst Maoist-hit Narayanpatna block of the district.
“They joined in our Laxmipur study centre, about 20 km from Narayanpatna. For their convenience, we will conduct classes for them at
Narayanpatna College on every Sunday,” said Latika Mishra, regional director, IGNOU (Koraput). Police said free education materials will be supplied to them. “It’s a good effort by the police. Education will surely give us much needed confidence to live in the society. I will try to do well in studies,” said one of the former Maoists. “It’s our appeal to Maoists to return to mainstream and avail the benefits of the surrender policy. Else, they will be dealt with iron hand,” said Singh.