RAIPUR: They are trained to supervise law and order operations and counterinsurgency, but the CRPF personnel, in a novel initiative, are helping farmers in ploughing their fields through tractors to win the hearts of tribals in Chhattisgarh 's worst Naxal-hit Sukma district.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the biggest force fighting Naxalism in various parts of the country, last month launched a unique programme to help tribals in ploughing their fields with the help of tractors, ahead of the crop sowing in Sukma district of South Bastar region.

"The initiative was taken up not only to improve relations between the security forces and locals, but also to support the poor tribals in farming who often do not get good crop productivity due to lack of modern and efficient agricultural equipment," a senior CRPF official said.

In farming, ploughing is done for initial cultivation of soil in preparation of sowing seeds or planting saplings.

The idea was introduced by CRPF's II battalion led by commandant VVN Prasanna in two-three villages for sowing paddy crops and it received a huge response, he said.

The CRPF personnel themselves ploughed at least 100 acres land through tractors in Misma village on Sukma-Dornapal road during the current kharif crop season, he said.

They also helped in ploughing some fields in the remote Injram and Bhejji villages of the region, he said.

Initially, the farmers were hesitant in taking assistance from paramilitary forces, but gradually they were persuaded when informed about how tractors can be more fruitful for them in yielding more production, he said.

