Adopt villages, schools in border areas: Aruchal Governor to Army
FROM OUR CORREPONDENT
Itagar, May 20: Aruchal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowa on Thursday called upon the Indian Army to adopt villages, schools and conduct medical camps in remote border areas for better coordition and a harmonised environment in the frontier state.
The governor made this appeal when General Officer Commanding-in-Chief from Eastern Army Command Kolkata, Lt General Praveen Bakshi called on him at Raj Bhavan and discussed on strengthening the Army presence in the state and healthier civil-army liaison. The governor suggested the Army to provide ration items through their canteen facilities and medicines and study materials to the health centres and schools respectively, a Raj Bhawan communiqué informed.
“With its men and machine, the Army can help patient evacuations at the time of emergency and maintain all the roads clear at all the time. Such initiative by the Army will help in arresting the migration of the indigenous population from rural border areas to urban settlements leaving those frontier areas vacant,” Rajkhowa pointed out.
Citing the example of Lady Everest Anshu Jamsenpa who had set two world records in mountaineering field, the governor also asked the Army to groom sporting talents. He stressed that the army units in the different parts of the state must motivate the local youth to join the Indian Army, particularly in the Aruchal Scouts. Considering the fact that indigenous population are from hill tribe, Rajkhowa said that height relaxation must be there for them and Army must consider their case.
He asked the Army Commander to take notes of some issues observed by him in border areas which he termed it as threats to tiol security. The Governor congratulated the Indian Army for successfully summiting Mount Everest (8848M) at dawn today, which was closed due to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal last year. He also commended the Army units in Aruchal Pradesh for strengthening their position in the border area.
The Army Commander briefed the governor on the overall scerio of Army presence in the state and area of responsibilities. He requested the governor for his persol intervention in the process of strengthening the defence infrastructure in the state in order. He also proposed for regular ‘Civil-Army liaison’ meeting at various levels of the command, the communiqué said. Lt General Bakshi also suggested some strategic projects which are required to augment defence preparedness that may be taken up by the state government. General Officer commanding from 3 Corps, Dimapur Lt General Abhay Krish, Commander 56 Div Lakabali Major General V Sahni and Additiol Secretary to Governor B S Hada was also present in the meeting, the communiqué added.
