Arunachal to have four new scout battalions

Itanagar, Nov 22 (UNI) Four new battalions of scouts will be raised in Arunachal Pradesh soon to act as first line of defence, Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh informed.

''The new battalions would provide employment to around 5,000 unemployed youths of the state,'' the Governor disclosed, while addressing the concluding day of the three-day Bharat Nirman public information campaign at Seppa, the headquarters of East Kameng district yesterday.

The campaign was organised with the collaborative effort of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Ball of Fire Division of the Army, official sources here today said.

While recollecting his days as Chief of Army Staff, the Governor said he introduced the policy of ''iron fist with velvet gloves'' and it would continue in the future as well.

''The Army is committed to social and economic development of the people of the remote, underdeveloped border regions of the country which otherwise is also important for sovereignty and security of the nation,'' the Governor commented.

Stressing on the importance of Bharat Nirman, the Governor lauded the PIB for its praiseworthy effort in disseminating the valuable information to the general public on various flagship schemes launched by the Centre meant to provide water, health, roads, education and community development for upliftment of the rural masses.

Advocating for good roads, the Governor said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) should build international standard surface communication so that Arunachal could be a model state in the country, the sources added.

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