AR-funded skill training for ZRA cadres underway
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, October 13 2021:
In an effort to impart skill-based training to cadres of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), signatory of Suspension of Operation (SoO), at their Muvanlai (New Teikot) camp, IGAR (South) Major General Alok Naresh inaugurated a 'Skill Development Training Programme' on Wednesday.
The skill development camp has been aptly named as 'Siamzilna leh Kilamthakna' meaning 'New Skills, Renewed Lives' and the inaugural programme was attended by dignitaries from Assam Rifles and Zomi Revolutionary Organisation (ZRO).
The inspector general explained that the initiative is aimed at empowering the trainees to successfully compete with their counterparts in professional and social domains.
Alok Naresh stated that the endeavour is to empower the trainees and announced that training for subsequent phases will be upgraded to other result oriented skills based on the feedback from the trainees.
He also expressed confidence that initiative of the Assam Rifles in instituting a Skill Development Centre will go a long way in positively shaping their lives by making them professionally skilled and financially independent.
The training will be organised in multiple phases of 30 days each and the first phase that commenced on Wednesday include training skills like sewing, carpentry and IT training.
The training is being organised by 27 Sector Assam Rifles and skills in computer, carpentry and tailoring will be imparted by Humanism Foundation in coordination with 46 AR, Khuga Dam.
It may be mentioned that ZRO/ZRA was the pioneer group to sign the SoO agreement with the government of India in August 2005.They formed an umbrella organisation called UPF and the ZRO president became the first chairman of UPF.
In August 2008, UPF and KNO - the two umbrella organisations of UG groups signed a tripartite SoO agreement with the government.
As per the terms of the SoO agreement, first designated SoO camp of ZRA came up in Muvanlai New Teikot in September 2010 .
Around 73 cadres of ZRA are currently residing in Muvanlai camp.
The inhabitants are mainly engaged in camp maintenance and other activities like pisciculture, goat farming, paddy cultivation, etc.
Meanwhile, Katheos Zomi, secretary external ZRA and member of JMG, said that they have been holding tripartite talks with the government since 2005 and the peace process has been going on smoothly.
He said the leadership has a great concern for its cadres and wants to acquaint themselves with new skills to be able to deal with challenges in life and this initiative is a step in the right direction, adding that ZRA has been in SoO for more than 10 years.
Even before SoO, ZRA, unlike other SoO groups, had never fired or provoked security forces without rhyme or reason.
Apart from Muvanlai, ZRA cadres in other camps are carrying out activities like piggery, goat farming, poultry, fish rearing and other forms of animal husbandry and cultivation of cash crops like ginger, turmeric which help them earn a livelihood and sustain their own needs independently.
In the surrounding hill slopes of Muvanlai camp, they carry out cultivation of rice and last year they had a bountiful harvest by reaping 1000 tins (steel container) of rice, Katheos Zomi recounted.
He also revealed that the political talks with the government would resume this month.
In a separate press statement, ZRA has extended greetings and appreciation to all participants of the open ing event of the skill development training sponsored by Indian Army and hosted by ZRA camp Muvanlai.
ZRA said that India is a welfare state which protects and promotes economic well-being of its citizens based on the principle of equal opportunity and equitable distribution of wealth.
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