Dairy project set to brighten up lives of ex-Maoists in jail

A dairy project will change the lives of 30 Maoists lodged in open jail-cum-rehabilitation centre of Hazaribagh.   With State government giving green signal, stage is set to launch this project at open jail by last week of this month. Jail superintendent Hamid Akhtar said that plan is to start the dairy project with 10 cows but within few months, it will increase upto 50. He said that Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail authorities purchase milk from the market and once open jail succeeds in this plan, it will cater to the need.

Sources said that the open jail is one of its type in Jharkhand with 96 cottages constructed in 50-acres of land. Idea behind the open jail is to keep arrested Maoists here with their families and to give them a chance to improve themselves as well as providing them some livelihood training. Then Chief Minister Hemant Soren had inaugurated the open jail in 2013. Each of the cottages has a kitchen and bathroom attached with it.  Officials said dairy project considered best for this purpose and so all hurdles cleared in this regard.

Akhtar said 30 Maoists lodged here will take care of the 10 cows.

He said that later on, plan is to increase the number of cows from 10 to 50. “We need not less than 100-litres of milk daily at the Central jail. According to him, Maoist who shunned the path of bloodshed will learn the techniques of dairy farming and later on if released can take this as their livelihood,” he said.

Sources said these prisoners will get the training to milk the cows besides veterinary doctors to supply them tips about symptoms of various diseases with which cows get infected frequently. They said earnings will be used to maintain and develop this business further.