"MANIPUR Young kids and inmates in relief camps are angry and disturbed.... SKILL DEVELOPMENTS are now best ways to arrest digression towards violence"

"Young kids and inmates in relief camps are angry and disturbed....," lamented an army officer at Churachandpur in Manipur. 

This region in the ethnic-conflict hit state has seen the worst of 2023 mayhem. 

There are multiple relief camps. There is still an immense tension and mutual suspicion between human beings and there have been people --who had to leave home and are now camping in relief camps around Imphal valley. 

("From hospitality placements for 114 youth in Imphal to vocational training for women ....... and trade skills in Tengnoupal, Chandel and Churachandpur, these initiatives are creating employment, fostering self-reliance & boosting local economies. 

In a region grappling with challenges like ethnic tensions & limited livelihoods, Assam Rifles is a beacon of hope, steadfast in its mission to bring peace, stability & prosperity to Manipur.-- tweet from official handle of Assam Rifles) 

Amid all these there is now an emerging latent Kuki-Zo conflict -- with the refrain being "we are not Kukis". 

So obviously there are chances a group of youths can easily develop anguish and get "misguided" as has been the case with insurgency movements in several states in the north east of India. 

Over the decades, the Assam Rifles as a force has been identified "more closely with the local inhabitants" than probably any other force operating in the region. 

Long back, an ex serviceman in Nagaland - the hotbed of anti-India movement - had said that the "ethos of the Assam Rifles" was moulded by the national leadership's commitment to help and extend assistance in career building for the native tribal population. 

"YEH FAUZ KAAM DETA HAE". 

Cut to post-2023 Manipur, and the force - also called 'friends of the hill people' - realise it that the 'SKILL DEVELOPMENTS' will be now the best of the ways to arrest digression of youth towards violence. 

"In Churachandpur region we propose to do something related to Marketing courses and we may soon work out something with a Bengaluru-based organisation," says a source. 

The idea is simple and benevolent - as they put it. 

"We need to empower the youth with skill sets that can facilitate them to secure employment and would also provide them with avenues to present themselves as trained individuals -- confident enough to face a tough world," the source said. 

In fact, in September 2024, one important Skill development measure for Manipur youths was undertaken in collaboration with 'We Care Skill Solution'.  

This organisation has been already imparting vocational training to youth of Manipur for the last five years and has successfully facilitated over 1000 placements in reputed hotels and airlines. 

Meitei Inmates in a relief camp at Thambal Marik College, Oinam  

Giving details, a source said - "Keeping in view the natural talent of youth in Manipur and their command over English, two most popular skill sets were chosen - the Hospitality and Retail Industries".  

The training curriculum included aspects of serving food and beverages, housekeeping activities and front office management. 

In addition, the Assam Rifles organises motivational lectures by experts including local personalities. 

During September 2024 event, D.G Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera felicitated 26 successful participants of the Skill Development Programme. 

DGAR - Lt Gen Lakhera 

Notably, the hotels which carried out campus recruitment are Leela Ambience (Delhi), Royal Orhid (Bhuj), Taj Vivanta (Tawang) and ITC Windsor (Bengaluru). 

A few girls also joined a retain chain called Ginja Tokio in Delhi.  

  

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