Chhattisgarh CM visits students undergoing pre-test training for 'Bastar Battalion'

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh visited a students' training camp where the latter are being provided pre-test training for recruitment in the Bastar Battalion, which is being raised to counter unemployment and combat Naxalism in the region.

Extending his good wishes, Raman Singh said the battalion is being formed only with local inhabitants and should be seen as a great opportunity for the youth.

"It is happening for the first time that a different unit of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), dedicated to a region, is being raised and the intake will be only from the four districts of the Naxal-hit region. It is a great opportunity for Chhattisgarh. I wish all of you great success and I would like to thank Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving their approval for raising this battalion," said Singh.

Deputy Inspector General of the CRPF (Dantewada Range) D P Upadhyay told ANI, "The Centre is forming a Bastar Battalion under which 213 vacancies have been allotted to the South Bastar district. We are holding pre-test training camps for these students so that more of them could qualify as most of them are from interior regions and villages of Dantewada."

He said that these students are being trained for physical as well as academic tests and more than one-third of the participants are girls.

"Women will also be a part of the Bastar Battalion and they will work on par with the men," he said.

Upadhyay said, "Backwardness and unemployment are some of the many reasons for Naxalism. So, when these youth will be provided jobs they will definitely be helpful in operations and bringing an end to Naxalite."

He added that these soldiers will be particularly helpful as they are locals and perfectly understand the language, culture and emotions of the people here; a problem that is faced by soldiers coming from outside and which leads to mistakes sometimes.

"The physical test would be conducted from October 14-24 and the written test will be held in the first week of November after that medical tests will be conducted and then the selected students will be provided training," he added.