Maj. Gen. D.C. Katoch, GOC of 5 Mountain Division, inspects the gadgets on display at an exhibition ? Know Your Army ? held at Tenga recently Kala Karthikeyan distributes winter clothes

With the installation of the railway passenger reservation system (PRS), defence personnel and civilians of Tenga in Arunachal Pradesh can now heave a sigh of relief.

Lt Gen. Arvind Sharma, GOC-in-C Eastern Command and Lt Gen. H.S. Lidder, GOC 4 Corps, along with Maj. Gen. Dhruv C. Katoch, SM, GOC 5 Mountain Division, visited the PRS installed at the recently established Tenga Haat.

Ira Sharma, president of the Army Wives Welfare Association, Eastern Command, appreciated the efforts put in by 5 Mountain Division in providing the PRS, an AWWA enterprise, which also has counters for fast food, a PCO with STD facility, and a cyber cafe.

The PRS has ushered in a bright and prosperous era for civilians and all ranks of Tenga, Rupa and Dahung Garrisons, who no longer have to get the rail reservation done through the Guwahati PRS.

The PRS has been established by hiring a 64-Kbps BSNL data connectivity from Guwahati to Tenga routed via Tezpur, Itanagar and Bomdila on microwave and optical fibre cable media.

The children couldn?t have asked for more, perhaps. Several children of ITBP School run by the 20th battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Along in Arunachal Pradesh?s West Siang district left for an all-India excursion on January 16.

The excursion aims at fostering national integration and usher in an era of new awareness in the area. The trip will give the children a chance to merge with the mainstream and see the culture, tradition and ethos of other parts of India. During their 20-day journey, the children will visit Guwahati, Delhi, Agra and Amritsar.

The highlight of the tour will be a meeting with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, watching the Republic Day parade and the Wagah border ceremony as well as visiting the Taj Mahal. The ceremony was flagged off by Brig. M.M.S. Rai, commander of 5 Mountain Brigade. Organising commandant K.P. Singh, S.K. Choudhury and commandant of 10th battalion S. Dalpatia were also present on the occasion.

On the eve of Army Day, Ball of Fire division organised an exhibition, ?Know Your Army? at Tenga in Arunachal Pradesh. Maj. Gen. D.C. Katoch, GOC 5 Mountain Division, inaugurated the exhibition that aimed at breaking down barriers between civilians and the men in uniform. Several stalls were put up showcasing the army?s might. Expectedly, the display of heavy artillery, such as Bofors guns and an array of military hardware used by the infantry, engineering and signalling divisions were great crowdpullers. However, the top draws were the rare photographs of Operation Vijay and an enthralling video presentation on the Kargil War organised at the Kargil Motivation Hall.

For the young and the adventurous among the crowd, the exhibition provided a great opportunity to indulge in some adrenaline-pumping activities such as rock climbing, live firing and horse riding.

A painting and quiz competition proved an instant hit with students of local schools. And, for the culturally-inclined, there was a live jazz band that had the crowd on its feet.

Army Service Corps, popularly called the ASC, celebrated its raising day in the Gajraj Corps zone recently. A barakhana was organised for all ASC officers, JCOs and jawans of the corps headquarters at ?A? Company 5004 ASC Battalion and for all officers of headquarters 4 Corps at Gajraj Officers? Institute. Lt Gen. H.S. Lidder and his wife Shobha were present at the banquet.

The parents and younger brother of Capt. N. Kenguruse, who died in the Kargil War on June 28, 1999, were also present. They had come from Dimapur.

Army Service Corps is one of the oldest logistic organisations of the army. Its role is to provide rations, fuel, oil and lubricants and ammunition to the armed forces deployed in operational and counter-insurgency environment.

The Corps?s deepest commitment to service aptly exemplifies its motto ? Seva Asmakam Dharma.

As the years passed, the ASC moved from strength to strength and aspired for nothing less than the pinnacles of glory. After Independence, members of the Corps have earned one Mahavir Chakra, 14 Vir Chakras, one Ashok Chakra and 10 Shaurya Chakras.

A Padma Bhushan, a Padmashree and four Arjuna award winners are from the Corps. The ASC Tornadoes have entered their names into the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest human pyramid on a motorcycle.

The gallantry and dedication to duty of ASC officers and men in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Chinese aggression, the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars, now in the CI Ops, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Pawan and most recently in Operation Vijay, have been outstanding.

The most recent operation in which the Corps proved itself was during Operation Vijay. Not only the units but also young officers attached to the infantry battalions displayed indomitable fighting sprit and outstanding valour. Some of them made the supreme sacrifice while leading their men into battle. These gallant officers include Capt. Vijayant Thapar (Vir Chakra, posthumous) Capt. Haneef Uddin (Vir Chakra, posthumous) Capt. Deepak Guleria (Sena Medal, posthumous) and Capt. N. Kenguruse (Mahavir Chakra, posthumous). Gen. Lidder told the gathering that it is ?our honour that parents of late Capt. N. Kenguruse are present here among us on this day. The brave soldier gave his present for our future. The nation is proud of and grateful to such heroes.?

The general assured Capt. Kenguruse?s father that he would do everything to realise his late son?s dreams. ?Defence services are like family and we would like to continue our association,? he said.

Air Force Wives? Welfare Association (AFWWA), a welfare organisation at Air Force station, Missamari, located 40 km from Tezpur and 11 km from Rangapara, has adopted a nearby village, Tatsal.

On the eve of Bihu, warm clothes were distributed by this organisation to the poor and needy people of the village. Kala Karthikeyan, president of AFWWA, assured the villagers that all possible help would be rendered by the organisation.

The organisation has also carried out pulse polio programmes, free medical camps and also distributed study materials to the children in the village