In a bid to generate employment in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided on establishing Prantiya Rakshak Dal(PRD) in 10 urban districts, including Lucknow. Earlier, the PRD was essentially rural-based and only rural youths were given a chance to join it. As per statements, the first phase of the programme will enrol a total of 1,050 youths, where each urban company of the PRD will have 105 youths. This number is inclusive of 11 women members also.

What is Prantiya Rakshak Dal?

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The Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) was established for creating self-confidence and communal harmony among villagers to inculcate a feeling of self-reliance and discipline among them and for self-protection and controlling crime. The governing subset of this programme, known as The Prantiya Rakshak Dal Act and Rules in 1948, has had a provision for an urban company but has remained unattended for the past 71 years. However, the state has now decided to constitute 10 urban companies in 9 cities including Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Kanpur, Moradabad and Gorakhpur.

According to the government spokesman, in the first phase, a total of 1,050 youths will be enrolled and like the rural company, each urban company of the PRD will also be having 105 youths. Special preference will also be given to women as the state has reserved the enrolment of 11 women in one section of the company.

The Additional Chief Secretary and Director General of the Youth Welfare and PRD department, said, "We sent this proposal to the government and after getting the nod, we have started the enrollment for the urban companies. Till date, we have selected and enrolled 20 youths in each company. This will increase in the future." After their selection, the youths will be given 22-day training. Besides this, 15-day refresher training is also given to them from time to time with their duties. At present, there are about 45,000 youths (male and female both in age group 18 to 60 years) enrolled in the PRD in the State, she added.