In a significant push to strengthen civil-military ties and uplift living standards in far-flung border regions, the Indian Army has executed key infrastructure projects in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. These initiatives, part of the Army's ongoing welfare efforts, provide critical amenities like reliable electricity and water to remote communities.
Lighting Up Life at 15,000 Feet in North Sikkim
The Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army has successfully established a 10-KW solar power plant at Muguthang village in North Sikkim. This village is situated near the China border at a staggering altitude of approximately 15,000 feet. According to an official statement, the plant now supplies reliable electricity, enabling year-round habitation and significantly improving safety in this isolated settlement.
Muguthang, home to just 32 residents from 10 families, faced severe challenges due to the lack of power. Previously, villagers depended on small personal solar panels and were forced to migrate for 5-6 months every year during the harsh winter, abandoning their homes and livestock. The new solar installation has transformed their lives by improving night-time safety, enhancing connectivity, and eliminating the need for this disruptive seasonal migration.
Ensuring Water and Shelter in Arunachal Pradesh
In another border state, troops from the Spear Corps have constructed a log hut equipped with a water storage facility at Ojugo village in Taksing, Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. This new structure is designed to provide essential shelter and assured water availability for local villagers and graziers. The Spear Corps highlighted this project on social media platform X, stating that the initiative under Operation Sadbhavana ensures basic amenities in remote areas.
Empowering Youth and Women in the Northeast
Beyond infrastructure, the Army is also focusing on skill development and sustainable growth. In a separate event, the Army flagged off an eco-tourism exposure tour from the Along Military Station in Arunachal Pradesh. This tour marks a step towards youth empowerment and sustainable development. Prior to the tour, a three-day homestay and eco-tourism training program was conducted at Aalo for 30 students and two instructors, covering community-based tourism and responsible travel practices.
Furthering its welfare drive, the Red Shield Division under Spear Corps in Manipur inaugurated a textile unit and Yarn Bank at Nungkot. This project aims to empower Kom women weavers by providing skill training and livelihood support. Additionally, a visit was organized to the IDP Camp Lamlai, where raw materials for handloom and tailoring units were distributed to aid displaced persons.
These multifaceted efforts underscore the Indian Army's commitment to Operation Sadbhavana, a program dedicated to winning hearts and minds through developmental activities, thereby improving the quality of life and fostering stability in India's sensitive border regions.
