Tribal youth from Naxal-affected areas visited SGCCI

Surat | Gujarat — More than 250 youth from Naxal-affected areas of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh recently visited The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) under the Youth Development Programme of the Government of India. With the guidance and support of the CRPF, Surat Police and officers associated with the programme, these youth came to Surat on a six-day study visit.

Many of these youth had experienced travelling in second class in a train for the first time in their lives. Most of the youth had never travelled in an airplane and some were sitting in a car for the first time. They had to walk for many kilometres during their school life to further their education, so their experience of comforts in life has been very limited.

During their visit to the SGCCI, they were amazed to see the modern facilities of the Chamber, the air-conditioned arrangements available in the exhibition centre and the seminar hall. It was their first experience of what an ‘exhibition’ is and how such programs are organized. They were also very impressed by the cleanliness, orderliness and development of Surat city.

In response to a question about Naxalism, some youth said that their elders had had a direct experience of Naxalism and they also remember it to some extent. However, the situation is improving rapidly now and now they too are optimistic that they will be able to move forward in life through education and hard work.

The visit to Surat and the interaction with the people here instilled new hope and inspiration towards life in the minds of the youth. With the cooperation of the Chamber’s Group Chairman  Manish Kapadia and Paresh Lathia, these youth got the opportunity to visit the Chamber of Commerce.