(IN): ‘Evergreen’ soldiers to protect environment

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul3107\ne1

 

`Evergreen' soldiers to protect environment

 

From Our Correspondent

 

SHILLONG, July 30 – Young India, move aside for these battalion of

" evergreen soldiers " who are marching upfront to declare war against

some of the negative elements out there trying to harm our only home

in this universe.

 

These brave hearts have fought Indo-Pak wars to secure Mother India

against hostile forces. They had then deposited their arms into the

arsenal and retired.

 

Now after a clarion call to serve the nation's interest once more

these soldiers with their never-say-die attitude are this time taking

up tools to safeguard the fast degrading environment on planet Earth.

 

Dubbed the `ecology battalion' the battalion of ex-service men would

be out there planting tress, carry out awareness programmes and stop

soil erosion and checking environmental degradation. The Rajya Sainik

Board of each State is responsible for raising these battalions with

the help of the Ministry of Defence.

 

In the land of the mighty but `always merciful' Brahmaputra, where

routine landslide, clogging of drainage system has always made

headlines, thankfully two battalion of the " ecology battalion " would

be raised soon.

 

" The process of recruitment is almost complete. Each battalion would

have over eight hundred men divided into four companies each and work

across the State. They would plant the fast growing Poplar trees from

Kashmir in areas of widespread deforestation " , informed Rajya Sainik

Board Director, Retd Brig. WJB Sturgeon.

 

In Assam, the issue of frequent flash flood and landslide has largely

been attributed to a government policy prioritizing infrastructure

development ahead of environmental safeguards thereby diffusing the

capital city into an urban chaos. The public too need to do some soul

searching, if they had not added to the present environmental problem

by not bothering to plant even a single sapling.

 

Nonetheless, Meghalaya would have its own " ecology battalion " for

which the State Government here has given its nod. Approval from the

Ministry of Defence is being awaited. The battalion would first plant

trees in Cheerapunjee where there has been widespread deforestation,

the Director added.

 

Retd Brig. Sturgeon said most of the present ex-service men have been

a neglected lot despite their selfless service to the nation. " They

are working at many places now as security guards at abysmal salary,

which is sad… " , he rued. But this would change as these new " ecology

battalion " would deservingly draw pay and perks commensurate to those

in the Territorial Army.

 

But the best perks would be if Gen X lends a helping hand to these

senior citizens in their noble task, so that they can breathe easy

awhile with the consoling thought that the process of nation building

is with safe and responsible hands.