MALKANGIRI: Shunning violence and making efforts to move ahead in life by gaining knowledge are a group of surrendered Maoists from Malkangiri district. The group of over 120 ex-Maoists, including former rebel leader Sukdev alias Budra Kabasi, wrote the final paper of term end Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP) under IGNOU at Kendriya Vidyalaya Centre here.
Talking to this paper after writing the final paper, the 30-year-old Koya tribal said he is hopeful of clearing the examination which would pave the way for taking direct admission to degree courses.A beaming Kabasi said he is happy to have a pen in place of gun and wishes to earn a graduate tag soon. “It is because of the efforts and persuasion by SP Jagmohan Meena that I could get the confidence to pick up pen and write the examination,” he added. Under the initiative of Meena, district police had launched ‘Mission Education’ to educate the surrendered Maoists and unemployed poor and tribal youths last year.
“The ‘Mission Education’ has helped me and more than 119 others to enrol freely for IGNOU sponsored BPP programme. Meena guided us on the course curriculum and how to prepare for the examination,” Sukdev said.
The objective of the mission was to provide free education to the rebels who had shunned violence and joined the mainstream. All the expenses for the BPP and Bachelors Degree programme of the surrendered Maoists will be borne by the police. In order to encourage the uneducated tribals, particularly surrendered Left wing extremists, the police also conducted counselling classes on district police office premises. The SP and his team took classes on the BPP Programme.
Koraput-based IGNOU Regional Director Dr Rajgopal Rao visited Kendriya Vidyalaya during the examination, interacted with Sukdev and other examinees (former Maoists) while they were appearing for the examination. Rao lauded the examinees for opting to write the BPP exam and also praised the initiative of Meena.
Sukdev was carrying a cash reward of `5 lakh on his head and working as an associate of most wanted Maoist leader Ramkrishna alias RK till he surrendered before Malkangiri police in 2016 after working for more than 15 years in the outfit.