NEW DELHI: In a bid to deepen civil–military cooperation and improve living conditions in remote border areas, the Indian Army has set up a 10-kilowatt solar power plant in north Sikkim and constructed a water storage facility in Arunachal Pradesh.
An official statement said the Trishakti Corps has installed the solar plant at Muguthang village in North Sikkim, located at an altitude of about 15,000 feet close to the China border. “The availability of reliable electricity has enabled year-round habitation and enhanced safety in this remote border village,” the statement said.
Muguthang is home to just 32 residents from 10 families. Until now, the absence of dependable power forced villagers to rely on small personal solar panels and migrate seasonally for nearly five to six months during harsh winters, leaving behind their homes and livestock. The new facility has improved night-time safety, strengthened connectivity and eliminated the need for seasonal migration.
In Arunachal Pradesh, troops of the Spear Corps have built a log hut with a water storage facility at Ojugo village in Taksing area of Upper Subansiri district. The facility will provide essential shelter and assured access to water for villagers and graziers. Posting on X, Spear Corps said the initiative under Operation Sadbhavana aims to ensure basic amenities in far-flung regions.
The Army has also stepped up community engagement through youth-focused initiatives. On Monday, it flagged off an eco-tourism exposure tour from Along Military Station in Arunachal Pradesh. Ahead of the tour, a three-day homestay and eco-tourism training programme was held at Aalo, where 30 students and two instructors were trained in community-based tourism, responsible travel practices and the economic potential of eco-tourism in the state.
In Manipur, the Red Shield Division under Spear Corps inaugurated a textile unit and a yarn bank at Nungkot to empower Kom women weavers through skill development and livelihood support. The unit also organised a visit to the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp at Lamlai, where raw material for handloom and tailoring units was distributed.
