New Delhi (NVI): Indian Army in its renewed and re-energised focus to rehabilitate ex-insurgents, has taken up a self-employment project ‘Manufacture of Tamul Plates’ operationalised at Borrangajuli Village in Tamulpur district in Assam.
As a pilot project, few ex-cadres are being engaged in making bio-degradable, environment friendly, cost effective Tamul plates which can be used in catering services to serve meals in offices and institutes for large gatherings.
This project is aimed at improving economic conditions and providing an opportunity to earn through self-employment, and is currently providing employment to ex-insurgents.
Furthermore, the manufacturing project is expected to expand in scale and scope. In this regard, additional machines are being purchased to augment existing capacities.
The project is conceived and executed by Indian Army in coordination with Aseem Foundation, a Pune based NGO.
Aseem Foundation is planning to market the product in Maharashtra and Assam, thereby generating more sales and resultant earning improving financial conditions of employees.
The raw material for the plate manufacturing is collected from farms located at remote villages and the finished product is supplied to establishments and institutions as far forward as possible.
The success of the pilot project can be gauged from the response of the locals who have requested to replicate the project in many more areas. The ex-insurgent families are happy since it would offer them an opportunity for dignified earning.
In addition to this, the villagers are also excited since the Tamul leaves and barks which were earlier being thrown as waste are being commercially sold. The local youth are being engaged for collection and stocking of raw material.
The success of this project will stimulate mushrooming of more such ventures leading to Engagement – Empowerment – Employment of the youth of Assam. This project will further facilitate constructive mainstreaming of more ex-cadres and contribute towards Surakshito, Vikashito, Sarbashrestha AXOM.
-CHK
