As a part rehabilitation of misguided people including Naxalites, an open jail was today inaugurated in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district.
"It is a historic moment for Jharkhand where Naxalites who surrendered recently will be allowed to stay with their family and minor children," Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said after inaugurating the open jail situated adjacent to the Hazaribagh Central Jail here.
The 100 inmates are free to go outside the jail and freely move in town but should not go beyond 15 km radius and should go to earn livelihood between 7 am and 5 pm, jail sources said.
Soren said the government would soon announce another surrender policy for rebels to enable them join the mainstream.
"This open jail will prove a milestone," he said, adding the government would provide further help like self-employment, government employment, vocational training to the surrendered Naxalites and their children.
"As these tribals have surrendered they should not be treated as Maoists. Because they are just like our brothers and sisters," he said, appealing to the jail staff to treat them as good citizens.
Soren also inaugurated a yarn making centre 'Srijan Centre' set up by Jharcraft in the open jail having 30 weaving machines to be operated on solar power for preparing silk yarns and jute yarns.
"Jharcraft will provide raw materials. It will cultivate mulberry and develop cocoons for manufacturing good quality of silk saree for which about 100 female prisoners of the adjoining Hazaribagh Central Jail will participate.
Jharcraft will provide market to them," Dhirendra Kumar, Director, Jharcraft, said.
