GUWAHATI: The crisis arising out of the coronavirus crisis has brought the families of pro-talks Ulfa militants closer to the Army in Assam’s Darrang district which was once a stronghold of the outfit.
The wives, sisters and other women family members of the pro-talks Ulfa cadre are delivering face masks in bulk to the Army and also to other people in Darrang. And in this endeavour, the sewing machines provided to their trust ‘Dast-R’ (Development Action for Social Transformation in Rural) by the Army unit deployed in Darrang in March has come handy.
Since the lockdown, 1,000 masks have been provided to Army personnel in Darrang. “We are feeling privileged to serve humanity in this hour of crisis. The Army unit based in Darrang placed an order of 1,000 face masks which we prepared with ‘gamosa’ (traditional Assamese scarf) and clothes given by the Army. Additionally, about 200 face masks have been supplied to locals,” said Chintamoni Kalita, wife of protalks Ulfa cadre Sarat Kalita.
Dast-R, floated by some surrendered Ulfa militants and those who joined peace talks with the government almost a decade ago, is guiding the women folk in Mahaliapara where pro-talks Ulfa militants have started farming activities to eke out a living.
Dast-R president Dilip Deka, who was mostly associated with cultural activities of Ulfa before he left the outfit in 2000, said, “I was among 250 youths who took voluntary retirement at that time. Since then, we have engaged ourselves mainly in farming and rural development activities in Darrang district. It’s heartening that our women have gone beyond sectarianism and are now helping the Army in this hour of crisis when face mask is the most prized possession.”
The pro-talks faction of Ulfa is headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa and Anup Chetia. After delivering about 1,200 face masks, mostly to the Army personnel deployed in Darrang, the women are now working on to make a consignment of 10,000 masks.
“At a time when the country is suffering from shortage of safety gear, the Army unit effectively engaged these exwomen cadres in making face masks. This initiative provided livelihood to rural villagers and the shortage of masks was also met. The Indian Army is always a step ahead when it comes to serving mankind,” said an Army officer.
In March, an Indian Army unit in Darrang district, as part of the Sadbhavana programme, established a vocational training centre and presented sewing machines to ex-women insurgent cadres in the district to empower them.
The wives, sisters and other women family members of the pro-talks Ulfa cadre are delivering face masks in bulk to the Army and also to other people in Darrang. And in this endeavour, the sewing machines provided to their trust ‘Dast-R’ (Development Action for Social Transformation in Rural) by the Army unit deployed in Darrang in March has come handy.
Since the lockdown, 1,000 masks have been provided to Army personnel in Darrang. “We are feeling privileged to serve humanity in this hour of crisis. The Army unit based in Darrang placed an order of 1,000 face masks which we prepared with ‘gamosa’ (traditional Assamese scarf) and clothes given by the Army. Additionally, about 200 face masks have been supplied to locals,” said Chintamoni Kalita, wife of protalks Ulfa cadre Sarat Kalita.
Dast-R, floated by some surrendered Ulfa militants and those who joined peace talks with the government almost a decade ago, is guiding the women folk in Mahaliapara where pro-talks Ulfa militants have started farming activities to eke out a living.
Dast-R president Dilip Deka, who was mostly associated with cultural activities of Ulfa before he left the outfit in 2000, said, “I was among 250 youths who took voluntary retirement at that time. Since then, we have engaged ourselves mainly in farming and rural development activities in Darrang district. It’s heartening that our women have gone beyond sectarianism and are now helping the Army in this hour of crisis when face mask is the most prized possession.”
The pro-talks faction of Ulfa is headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa and Anup Chetia. After delivering about 1,200 face masks, mostly to the Army personnel deployed in Darrang, the women are now working on to make a consignment of 10,000 masks.
“At a time when the country is suffering from shortage of safety gear, the Army unit effectively engaged these exwomen cadres in making face masks. This initiative provided livelihood to rural villagers and the shortage of masks was also met. The Indian Army is always a step ahead when it comes to serving mankind,” said an Army officer.
In March, an Indian Army unit in Darrang district, as part of the Sadbhavana programme, established a vocational training centre and presented sewing machines to ex-women insurgent cadres in the district to empower them.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app