For the benefit of children living in isolated areas of Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, the Indian Army is conducting a number of welfare initiatives under the banner of “Operation SADBHAVANA,” including the operation of Army Goodwill Schools, infrastructure development projects, educational tours, and other initiatives. In the Ladakh Region, the Indian Army is now operating seven (07) Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) as part of “Operation SADBHAVANA” to raise the bar for education and provide students with a quality education. These schools now house more than 2,200 students.
Additionally, during the current fiscal year 2022–2023, funds for “Operation SADBHAVANA” totaling Rs. 8.82 crore have been allocated for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The money is being used for a variety of projects, including the development of human resources and skills, sports, healthcare, national integration, infrastructure development, ecology and Environment and Education.
Following assistance has been provided in the field of Health and Sanitation, Community Development and Infrastructure development:
1 – Medical camps, veterinary camps, the provision of medical supplies, the upgrading of medical infrastructure, and the staffing of Medical Aid Centers have all been offered in various remote sites in Ladakh as a step toward a healthy nation for a wealthy Ladakh. In the Ladakh Region, a total of 23 Projects have been allocated in the fiscal year 2022–2023 from the “Operation SADBHAVANA” money for health and sanitation.
2 – The assistance given in terms of community development projects includes building, upgrading, and providing equipment for community halls, water supply schemes, providing generators, solar lighting, arboriculture, establishing bore wells, construction of village roads and tracks, and building of toilets. It also includes providing assistance with arboriculture and bore well establishment. The provision of equipment, athletic apparel, and the organisation of numerous sporting events all help to fuel the growth of sports. A total number of 23 Projects have been allotted in the financial year 2022-23 for health and sanitation out of the ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’ funds in the Ladakh Region.
3 – In the fiscal year 2022–2023, 17 infrastructure projects, including the construction of a computer lab, the Captain Manoj Pandey Param Veer Chakra (PVC) (Posthumous) Stadium/Sports Complex, community halls, the renovation of Rinchen Auditorium, and the establishment of a Youth Empowerment Node, have been allocated funding in all districts of the UT of Ladakh.
Through different training programmes organised and supported by “Operation SADBHAVANA” in Vocational Training Centers, Women Empowerment Centers, and Computer Centers at various sites in Ladakh, women in remote areas of Ladakh are being empowered. Additionally, classes are being organised for women to learn how to do a variety of tasks, such as weaving pashmina shawls, knitting wool, extracting apricot oil, making yak cheese, and baking yak cheese. The education fund fairly represents female pupils outlay of ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’.Further, ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’ an initiative exclusively for girl students of Kargil is launched for preparation for various competitive examinations for admissions into various professional colleges and institutions in India.
Capacity building tours were not organised in the previous two years due to COVID restrictions, but this year five tours were organised, three of which were specifically for women and two of which were for students, including female students, giving them the chance to meet and speak with the President of India in Delhi. For the upcoming year, a total of 13 such tours have been scheduled. A total of Rs. 2.4 Crores has been spent over the past three years on projects related to women’s empowerment, including those planned for the upcoming year.
‘Operation SADBHAVANA’ is fulfilling its objectives. Some of the objectives achieved through ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’ are national integration tours, women empowerment, employment generation, education and development activities towards nation building. Projects for “Operation SADBHAVANA” are chosen in coordination with the local civil administration, taking into account local desires, and it is guaranteed that there are no overlaps with civil government projects.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal in Lok Sabha today.
