In order to channelise the energy of the youth of the Naxal-affected regions of the Chintapalli subdivision in Alluri Seetharamaraju district of Andhra Pradesh towards productivity, the district police, under the leadership of Satish Kumar IPS, Tuhin Sinha IPS, and Kishore Kommi IPS, came together to launch project ‘Prerana’. The project aims to provide the youths with employment opportunities to keep them away from Naxalism.
Indian Masterminds spoke exclusively with IPS officer Kishore Kommi, ASP Chintapalli, to know more about the initiative.
PRERANA
The Prerana program was taken up with the motto of ‘empowerment, education, and employment of tribal youth’ who otherwise used to get attracted towards Naxalism. Through ‘Prerana’, the police officers of the region wished to bring the local tribal youths to the mainstream by educating them and providing them with ample employment opportunities to keep them away from the evils of society.
“We want to make them role models for others to emulate. They could serve as a reason for others to get educated and do better in their lives,” Mr. Kommi shared.
REASONING
As the program was getting launched, one question put forth by the tribal youths was, ‘Why should we study if there are no jobs for us?’ The question was based on the narrative that Maoists had spread over time and which was deeply rooted in the youths’ minds from a tender age.
However, the officer and his team had a solution for this. He understood their reluctance and motivated them to study and get a proper education and assured them that they are there to support them through study materials, coaching, and other necessities.
“We further explained to them about the different competitive exams through which they could get good employment which will help them in leading a good life,” the officer told Indian Masterminds.
STANDING TRUE TO HIS WORDS
Mr. Kommi did as he said. Through Prerana, he not only came forward to help the tribal youths receive a proper education but also helped them in gaining employment opportunities. He involved all the girls under the Prerana program in nurse training which helped them in getting employed in reputed hospitals.
“We also engaged with Tata Trust, and under their social impact program, they recruited around 70 girls and all of them are now working in electronic plants and earning good pay. These girls have now become a great inspiration for their villages as they had come from really remote regions where they had no access to even mobile networks, and now they are working in these big plants,” the officer shared.
MOTIVATING THE LOCALS
The police are continuously coming forward to motivate the tribal youths to come forward and get involved with the project. They also collaborate with private firms, tie up with them, get sponsors, and create awareness in the villagers regarding the same.
The Chintapalli police go out of their line and trek high ranges to reach the interiors of the villages to carry forward these awareness programs. They try and touch each and every household to help them and make them understand the numerous benefits that the project can provide them with.
“We collect their relevant details and documents and convince their parents as well, to let them come forward and build a future for themselves. This was especially needed as there are numerous young girls involved with us in Prerana,” he told Indian Masterminds.
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
The officer and his team trained the girls before they went for their job interviews which resulted in a 100% job placement. All of them were selected, and the best part is that all of them still continue to work there.
“These are sort of confidence-boosting measures that we undertook. I feel really happy and glad when they come to me and tell me how our project has changed their lives in different ways. I can see the positive impact that they are creating,” shared Mr. Kommi.
