BHUBANESWAR: The Government of Odisha, in alignment with directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, is set to initiate a unique training program aimed at preparing students to face Maoist activities in the state’s red terror affected districts. This decision comes in response to the ongoing presence of Maoist influence in certain areas, despite a gradual decrease in activity over the past decade.
The Higher Education Department, in collaboration with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate, will lead this initiative, with selected students receiving specialized training from January onwards. This pilot phase will begin in seven LWE-affected districts: Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Balangir, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, and Rayagada. In the future, this may be expanded to other district headquarters.The training aims to enhance students’ awareness, self-defense skills, and community resilience against potential Maoist threats.
The selection of students for this program will be conducted through a dedicated entrance examination. The Higher Education Department and NCC Directorate will jointly oversee the selection process, ensuring students best suited for the program are chosen. Training will be conducted at colleges and schools in district headquarters, with accommodations arranged for participants at these institutions. Retired personnel with relevant expertise may also be recruited as trainers, lending valuable real-world experience to the training process.
The objective of this training is not to engage students directly in anti-Maoist operations but to equip them with the knowledge to protect themselves and their families in vulnerable regions. Furthermore, trained students are expected to share their skills with local youth, creating a community-level defense mechanism and strengthening anti-Maoist efforts in Odisha.
In addition to this program, the state plans to expand NCC programs across schools and colleges, incorporating NCC as part of the formal curriculum. Priority will be given to government and government-aided institutions to foster a broader impact, with plans to address under-enrollment in NCC in certain districts. Lists of eligible institutions will be provided to the Directorate by the Higher Education Department to facilitate this expansion.
Recognizing the academic demands on students, the government has instructed college authorities to arrange additional classes or online resources for participants who miss regular classes due to training. In cases where exams coincide with training camps, universities have been advised to schedule alternative exams for affected students.
To support the program, local law enforcement will provide security measures, and transport departments will offer bus services for trainees. Enhanced refreshment allowances and accommodation provisions for training camps during school holidays are also planned. Additionally, the NCC unit at Gangadhar Meher College in Sambalpur will be relocated to a nearby government facility to better serve the local community.
This initiative underscores Odisha’s commitment to building community resilience against extremism, encouraging youth involvement through NCC and self-defense training as vital steps in safeguarding the state from Maoist activities.
