The Rashtriya Rifles has embarked upon a project to impart basic vocational training to youths in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir to wean them away from terrorism, a defence spokesman said in Jammu on Wednesday.
Under the project, the youths of far-flung areas of Reasi will acquire skills of driving, carpentry and tailoring.
The first part of this project started on Thursday by training 20 youths at Talwara, about 78 km from Jammu, in driving, he said, adding these youths belonging to Sarh, Tuksan, Shajru, Saldhar and Batoi villages would be trained till August 27.
The exercise has been taken up in plains in Talwara first before progressing to hill driving, the spokesman said.
A team of highly qualified instructors was imparting training to the candidates and licenses would be provided only after conduct of a driving test, he added.
The locals were appreciative of this gesture, which, in turn, will go a long way in strengthening the bond between the people and the security forces, he added.