Ajay Banerjee

Pernia, a young girl at a school run by a government-backed NGO in Tenga valley, located at an altitude of 6,500 feet, addresses the morning assembly where she narrates to children: “India is a big country… we are part of it”.Her words assume significance for China has been staking claim to this territory while locals consider it a part of India. This is where the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) handed down one of the biggest military embarrassments to India.As Pernia continues with the assembly at her school — Rajendra Ashram — its director Ravindra Mishra talks to two young Army officers about the shortage of rice for 120 children who stay in the school’s boarding facility.A senior officer, who has come from Tezpur-based 4 Corps, steps in and directs the officers to “give the rice”. He assures Mishra “ho jayega” (it will be done).The school gets aid from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and at the local level, it comes under Army’s “Operation Samaritan” in Arunachal Pradesh.The operation is nowhere near the size and scale of “Operation Sadbhavana” — a similar civil interaction programme being run in J&K by the Army.In the North-East, educational institutes have been adopted. Up north in Tawang, Manjushree School has been provided with amenities, including computers, a printer, tables and chairs, for improving education.Its principal Amar Gurung says: “We are now adding classes X, XI and XII and will seek Army’s help in teaching.” The children are also being taught in Tibetan script — an attempt to keep the legacy alive.Manjushree School and Rajendra Ashram have one thing in common — they are for orphans, destitute and the poor. At Bum La, the border meeting point with the Chinese, the children of Manjushree School are often part of the civilian welcome team.Militarily, Tawang and Tenga — 190 km apart — are important staging grounds for the Army. Other than Bomdila, the route has very small hamlets that cannot sustain on their own in the face of adversity.The road has Army recovery vehicles to help people and drivers in distress. In this remote part, where there are no roadside eateries, Army units make provisions for tea at Sela Pass, Jaswant Garh and Sapper.Schools being covered under “Operation Samaritan” include Vidyashree School, Tawang; Government School, Gorsam; Government Primary School, Gacham; Government School, Lhou; Government School, Shoktsen; and Primary School, Zemithang. Besides, amenities are being provided at Teli and Thrizuno village among others.

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