Assam Rifles and HESCO to train tribals to be self-reliant

Shillong, Jul 25 (UNI) Assam Rifles (AR) will set up 'Rural Technology Hubs' to uplift tribal communities, especially in the far-flung areas of the North East.

'' We have decided to set up these rural technology hubs in the region with the help of a Dehradun-based NGO, Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), to ensure that the local population residing in inaccessible areas are trained to be self-reliant,'' Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Paramjit Singh told newspersons here today.

The main objective of the project, which would be launched as a pilot experiment, would be to make all local population self-reliant by imparting technical skills so that they could earn their livelihood and attain social independence.

''Rural development expert and HESCO leader Dr Anil Joshi had briefed us on how to develop an eco-friendly society and suggested feasible solutions to uplift socio-economic conditions in far flung areas of the region,'' the AR chief said.

Initially, AR would set up these rural technology hubs at Nongkrem village in Meghalaya, Hypie village in Senapati district of Manipur and Benreu village in Peren district of Nagaland with technical assistance and expertise from HESCO.

These infrastructure units would start functioning within two months and train locals, especially women, on post-harvesting technologies, bakery, candle-making, horticulture, incense and charcoal-making, besides multiple applications of water mills, Lt Gen Singh said.

HESCO has pioneered many technologies and has been engaged in the entire Himalayan belt, comprising all the hill states of the country, to upgrade and renovate the watermills.

Earlier, Dr Joshi had helped the Indian Army in setting up rural technology hubs in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, as a non-military mechanism, to tackle the insurgency problem.

UNI