Tribal youth choose education as answer to extremism

Tribal youth from Naxal-affected regions on Sunday said education is the only way to overcome backwardness and bring lasting change to their communities.

They shared their views at a Tribal Conclave held at GITAM Deemed to be University. The youth said that despite living in remote forest areas, they aspire to pursue higher education and secure respected jobs. “Education can change our future,” several participants said.

The conclave was part of the 17th Tribal Youth Exchange Programme organised under Mera Yuva Bharat of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Around 200 youth from six districts took part. These included Dantewada, Kanker, Mohla-Manpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, and Kandhamal in Odisha.

Participants spoke about the difficulties they face in daily life. Many villages lack proper roads, schools do not have enough teachers, and medical facilities are far away. Some students said they did not know that universities exclusively for tribal students exist in the country.

Several youth said this was their first visit to a city. “Without this programme, we would never have seen the outside world,” a participant said. Many expressed ambitions to become civil servants, police officers, lawyers, and political leaders. They said development through education was better than violence.

GITAM organised career counselling sessions on the suggestion of Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat. Faculty members explained university admissions and reservation policies. Health awareness sessions and a mock Parliament were also conducted.

Mera Yuva Bharat Deputy Director G. Maheswara Rao said the programme had made a positive impact on tribal youth.