ASSAM TIMES POST
Diphu : EKA once considered as one of the most prosperous districts of Assam besides being the largest, witnessed worst of its times in last three decades. The district had considerable number of industrial establishments besides other renowned business units.
People had always been living in harmony irrespective of diverse ethnic mixture. No one would ever had a fickle of imagination regarding the tumultuous turn the situation would take so abruptly.The tranquil environment synonymous to the district suddenly turned out to be a thing of past and ethnic clashes and kidnappings became the norm.
This paradigm shift in the situation was primarily because of some differing ideologies and perceptions handful of people tried to impose on rest of the populace. This suddenly snowballed into ethnic clashes which earned EKA, the dubious distinction of being the most ethnically volatile district of the State.
With the situation racing from bad to worse owing to rampant extortion, killings, kidnappings and arson, Indian Army considered as the last bastion of peace enforcement were called to control the alarming violence levels in the district at the onset of the millennium. It took some time for the Army to bring semblance of normalcy in the region by actively operating against the anti peace factions following Iron Fist in Velvet Glove Policy.
This paid dividends over the decade as most of these violent groups were either eliminated or joined the main stream by surrendering enmasse. Indian Army during this phase emerged as one of the reliable well wishers of the local populace by balancing its surgical operations with a Healing Touch.
This translated in the form of various welfare projects commonly referred to as Sadhbavna Projects in Army parlance. Considerable number of such projects ranging from provisioning of basic living amenities including tube wells, roads, community halls and school buildings besides frequent medical camps were undertaken in remote villages of the district to provide succour to the people who otherwise suffered badly due to the political apathy of successive governments.
National Integration Tours were also being organised for the children of various schools of the district especially from less privileged sections of the society with the aim of exposing and connecting them to rich cultural and traditional heritage of the country.
With the district having the considerable number of unemployed youth, it made an all out effort to provide them the necessary know how andtraining about the recruitment processes carried out by the Army and Paramilitary forces.
Vocational and skill development courses to enable the men and women to earn their livelihood in a dignified manner through self employment projects which included Pig rearing farms, tailoring and stitching, computer literacy and driving also saw the light of the day. Needless to say,Army was always there for people to look back upon during any natural or manmade calamity. Â
The yeomen service rendered by the Army during various floods in the district by saving numerous precious lives and distributing clothes, medicines and food to the needy impacted the populace to the extent that people used to come out in huge numbers on roads to express their gratitude to these stalwarts for their selfless service. It always adeptly swung into action to control any law and order situations which arised in the district at numerous occasions in a very professional manner.
The intimate connect that Army developed with the people of the district over these years had transformed into an emotional attachment which is going to remain there for quite sometime. Now since, it has moved out of the district, a considerable voidhas been left in the hearts and minds of people. People of Karbi Anglong will always hold Indian Army in high esteem and remain indebted for all that it did for the district to ensure return of peace and normalcy in the region and providing the much needed sense of lasting security to its people.Â
