GUWAHATI, JAN 11: The Longding Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR(N) had organised a nine day National Integration Tour to Jorhat-Guwahati- Kaziranga-Kolkata for the students of Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh during January 3 to 11 2023.
The tour was aimed at widening the horizon of young generation of Wanchos and strengthening their bond with our Nation.
The educative and entertaining tour was flagged of by Brigadier Swarn Singh, Commander, Headquarters 25 Sector Assam Rifles on January 3 at Longding in the presence of Tanpoh Wangnow, MLA Longding, civil dignitaries, teachers, heads of Civil Society Organizations and parents.
The students successfully completed the tour on 11 January 2023 and was flagged in by Col Kulvir Singh Gill, Commandant 40 Assam Rifles in the presence of Sompha Wangsa, Wancho Council President amidst an exuberant crowd of parents and school children , at Longding.
A total of 20 meritorious students including nine girls and eleven boys and three teachers selected from various Government schools located in the remote villages of Longding district visited various institutions of excellence and tourist attractions in Jorhat, Kaziranga, Guwahati and Kolkata during the nine day tour.
The team visited Air Force station Jorhat where they were given first hand exposure to various aircrafts including Sukhoi 30 MK I and AN 32s and witnessed a spectacular Dog show by the canine warriors of Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre, Jorhat.
At the Kaziranga National park, they got a glimpse of a variety of flora at the Biodiversity reserve and enjoyed an adventurous jeep safari into the wilderness of Kaziranga National Park, spotting the famous one horned rhino, elephants, buffalo’s and deer’s.
At Guwahati, the NIT team enjoyed an exciting boat ride in Brahmaputra river and vis the blissful Post-Gupta pd Umananda temple located on a small island in the heart of river Brahmaputra. The team mov to Kolkata by train, which Incidently was the maiden train ride for these children.
At Kolkata, the NIT team visited the state of the Art Science City and Birla Planetarium where they got an educative and informative exposure to the scientific advancements taking place in the rest of the country. They also visited Fort William, Indian Museum, War memorial and Victoria memorial at Kolkata. The children got a glimpse of the rich and varied cultural heritage of the Nation at these historical sites. They also enjoyed the heritage walk and the replicas of seven wonders of the world at Eco Park Kolkata.
The National Integration Tour also provide the students an opportunity to interact with Lt Gen R P Kalita,GOC-in-C Eastern Command and Shri C V Ananda Bose, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal.
The students and teachers who were part of the National Integration Tour enthusiastically shared their experience with the congregation of parents and school children.
Such noble initiatives from the Assam Rifles are bound to further the cause of national integration for students hailing from one of the remotest region of Arunachal Pradesh and reaffirm the famous sobriquet of Assam Rifles “The Firends of The Hill People”