KANNUR: When the men in khaki took up a green project, one wondered how they would steal time to sweat it out in farms at the cost of putting the region’s law and order to rest. But innovative and enterprising SI P Biju proved he has another trick up his sleeve to make things work. The plan worked out well and Chakkarakkallu Police added one more inspiring tale to their already rich repertoire of services to the cause of humanity. They transplanted seedlings in 2.5-acre paddy field amid much fanfare, with the help of some transformed men who earlier had a tendency to break the law.
When Munderi panchayat and ‘Oruma’, an organisation committed to the progress of farming community in the area, joined hands to make the area green again, the first thing came to their mind was to approach the Chakkarakkallu Police, since they had earned a reputation for being people-friendly through a number of projects, recently. SI Biju, whose philanthropic services have been hailed by the media and people alike, embraced the idea to make the 77 acres of fallow land green again.
“With the limited staff at our disposition, it would’ve been be impossible for us to take up farming,” said SI Biju. But he had other ideas. The jobless and aimless youth of the area who used to gang up and indulge in anti-social activities were rounded up and given some awareness counselling. They then joined the merry band of Biju.
With the support of the panchayat and Oruma, the Chakkarakkallu Police have successfully sailed through the first phase of the farming at Munderi.‘The youth who were considered as bad and ill-motivated are a changed lot now’, agrees Munderi panchayat president A Pankajakshan. “As the police have their duties to perform in the law and order area, we’re giving our wholehearted support to their endeavour,” he said.
Oruma Karshika Vikasana Samithi convenor E Narayanan is also full of enthusiasm as he expressed his disbelief at the transformation of the ‘astrayed youth’ .
“The work of the police was unbelievable. Now the youth of the area is coming out in large numbers to participate in the farming activities,” he said.It is under the Haritha Keralam project the 77 acres of fallow lands are taken for farming. The agreement letter from the land’s original owners were organised with the help of the panchayat and other government officials.
“They’ll be given a share of the profit from the yield,” said Pankajakshan. The Kaithala Padasekhara Samithi, which has taken up the task to make the field green again, is in an upbeat mood as the presence of the police has given the project the much-needed attention. Moreover, a group of young men, earlier considered as astrayed, have regained the rhythm of their life.