LAKHISARAI / PATNA, Dec. 26 -- Shukadi Khoda, 26, has seen poverty, violence and exploitation by the Naxals in his early years. Today, for six to seven months a year, he is working on one job or the other (mostly driving) in Mumbai, earning Rs.25,000 per month. His friend, Dharmendra Khoda, has diversified himself in multiple professions. He has a DJ, runs a tent house and a kirana shop whereas her mother is an Asha worker.

Shukadi and Dharmendra are among the 200-odd youth, who have preferred to follow a path of work and self-employment for their livelihood rather than follow what their earlier generations used to do --live at the mercy of Naxals, fulfill their demands and live a life of penury.

The result is for themselves to see and ...