Armed forces showpiece Northeast in trade fair
The Armed forces pavilion at the prestigious India International Trade Fair (IITF), 2007 will focus on their role in bringing the remote North-Eastern region to the national mainstream. This was stated by the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Milan Lalitkumar Naidu at a media presentation on the Defence pavilion here today. The theme of the Defence pavilion at the fortnight long annual extravaganza has been aptly titled “Defenders of the Dawn”. General Naidu also released a brochure “An Eastern Odyssey, which unveils the vast tourist potential of the virgin region.
Speaking on the occasion General Naidu said a mind boggling over 27,000 kms road has been laid in the difficult muddy northeastern Himalayan hilly terrain by the Border Roads Organization (BRO), ushering development in the landlocked, mainly tribal region. Besides, the BRO has constructed nearly 12 kms. of bridges and another 2.3 kms of bridges would be laid by March next year. General Naidu said the armed forces have been integral to the development of the seven northeastern states, linked to the mainland by a slender 30 kms wide corridor at Siliguri. Most of these states have been suffering under the scourge of terrorism sometimes or the other during the six decades of our independence.
The Defence pavilion will also showcase, for the first time, the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), Vairengte in Mizoram, a premier institute in low intensity warfare which has, despite its low profile, trained soldiers from more than 42 countries including the United States.
The role of the armed forces is not limited to fighting insurgency alone. Under Operation Sadbhavana the army has been reaching out to the common man, providing medical aid, education, relief and infrastructure development. The three wings of the armed forces Wives Welfare Association have also shouldered equal responsibilities with the valiant soldiers in ushering development in the region.
Viewers to the Defence pavilion can also have a glimpse of the glory of the Assam Rifles and the Territorial Army in defending the nation’s borders and their contribution to nation building. A sound and light show “The Saga of Brahmaputra” at Hamsdhwani Theater on 16 – 17th November at 07.00 PM will also delight the visitors. For the first time the audience can also chat with soldiers on the remote northeastern frontiers through live video conferencing.
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