Other than maintaining law and order, the police in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is also engaged in nurturing the younger generation towards better employment prospects by giving them skill training. They are also helping the people of the Naxal-affected areas to get Ayushman Bharat cards, caste certificates etc., and avail various government schemes.
More than 4000 boys and girls from Naxal-affected areas have been sent on the path of skill development and employment under the initiative named ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’, which in Gondi means ‘a window of brother police’. Recently, a batch of 20 girls started their free 30-day driving course. Later, they would be assisted to obtain a license and eventually a job. There are many more such steps, which Gadchiroli Police has been continuously taking for the last one and a half year.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2010-batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre Ankit Goyal, who is the Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli, to get more details.
POLICE DADALORA KHIDKI
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Goyal said, “Although this is an initiative of Gadchiroli police, we do it in coordination with several other departments. We started it in January, 2021 and named it ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’. Employment is just one part of it. There is more government scheme in this initiative. Till now, more than 2 lakhs people have been benefited in the Gadchiroli district.”
Coordinating with different agencies, the police department gives training for skill development to the youth, either for jobs or for self-employment, training related to the automobile sector, hospitality sector, nursing, electrical, construction, etc. The department also helps the youth to get jobs by organising placements.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING YOUTHS
On the criteria for selecting youths, Mr. Goyal said, “There is no special criteria. First we find out from the agencies what are their requirements and how many people they want. Then we give priority to the youth from far flung areas which are Naxalites affected. We have ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’ in every outpost, where anyone can come and get details. Many times we ourselves reach out to the youth. Our people go from village to village and inform the youth about job opportunities.”
FREE OF COST
From filling the form to getting the job, the police give them full support. No charge is levied, neither for filling the form nor for skill training. “We bring youth from their homes, enrol them, get the form filled out by them, and also help them to get jobs. All this is free, not a single penny is taken from anyone.”
The officer also informed that the employed youth get around 10 to 15 thousand per month as salary in the beginning. And after getting promotion, some of them are getting 25 thousand, too.
PROMOTING SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Mr. Goyal further said that one of the best things about this initiative is that not all youth take placement and join jobs. Many youths prefer self-employment, as well.
“We fully support those youths who prefer self-employment. We help them in getting loans, but before that, we always try to do something for them so that they can avoid taking a loan. For instance, if someone had done a tailoring course, we provide sewing machines to him.”
MANY SCHEMES UNDER ONE WINDOW
Apart from giving training and employment to the needy youths of Naxal-affected areas, many other government schemes are also included in this initiative, like the distribution of caste certificate under Project Pragati, opportunities for free residential training in different fields, distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards, proposals for domicile, caste certificates, etc.
Mr. Goyal said, “This scheme was started on a pilot basis at Bhamragad sub-division of Gadchiroli district. Through this window, various government schemes, government certificates, high quality agricultural seeds, employment, self-employment, etc. were implemented through a single window. After seeing the enthusiastic participation of public in it, the Dadalora window was created at all posts and sub-posts. A total of 53 Dadalora windows have been set up in the district and a civic action team works in each window.”
CURBING NAXAL ACTIVITIES
The Gadchiroli police has also taken up several initiatives and programmes to provide benefits to surrendered Naxals. In order to curb the Maoists and their ideology, intensified anti-naxal operations are being carried out by the security forces deployed in the district. Apart from this, many innovative civic action programmes are conducted under the aegis of ‘Police Dadalora Khikdi’ like Jan Jagran Melawas, Employment Melawas, Vocational Training, helping to obtain caste and other entitlements, etc.
Police also organises the Gadchiroli Festival to promote the artistic talents of the tribal artisans of the area. And in no time, the handmade goods of the tribals coming from Naxal-affected areas get sold like hotcakes. According to Mr. Goyal, handicraft and locally made items worth Rs.15 lakhs were sold in the last festival. Also, for the first time in the region, agricultural exhibition, handicraft exhibition, dance competition, volleyball competition etc., were organized.
The Gadchiroli police also found a rather unique way to counter Naxalism. They launched a comic strip under the title of ‘Gadchiroli Files’ that reflects the ground realities of the Naxal-affected areas in Gadchiroli.
