The Territorial Army (TA), a distinguished military reserve force that provides critical operational and logistical support to the Indian Armed Forces and civilian authorities during natural calamities and national/regional emergencies, proudly marks its Platinum Jubilee Year from 1949 to 2024.
In continuation to the celebrations, the 134 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Ecological, Assam, also known as the 134 Ecological Task Force (ETF), organized a Awareness Program and Mass Plantation Drive of fruit bearing trees to commemorate World Elephant Day 2024. The saplings were planted in the designated Elephant Corridors in Sonitpur district of Assam. Elephant corridors are key in ensuring that these majestic animals, who naturally forage over a very large area, are accorded safe passage across the various forest blocks within a herds beat. These corridors also ensure that the human-elephant conflicts are kept to a minimum. The fruits bearing trees planted along these designated corridors will provide the pachyderms with ample food sources, thus reducing the chances of them straying into neighbouring human settlements in search of food.
The 134 ETF, established in 2007 in the Sonitpur District of Assam, was formed to combat rampant deforestation and restore the region’s fragile ecological balance. Since its inception, it has played a crucial role in environmental conservation in the Sonitpur and Biswanath districts of Assam.
To commemorate the World Elephant Day and also, the Platinum Jubilee of the Territorial Army, 134 ETF conducted a large-scale plantation drive, planting fruit-bearing trees in the designated Elephant Corridors in Sonitpur district, in conjunction with MOEF&CC and SFD. This initiative saw enthusiastic participation from the local villagers and school children, who joined hands to develop and maintain the elephant corridors in their area.
During the event, ETF personnel engaged with the villagers and school children, emphasizing the importance of protecting our ecosystems and especially aiding the cause elephants, the gentle giants. They highlighted that the success of any ecological mission depends on the active and wholehearted involvement of every member of human society.
This mass plantation drive is in continuation of a series of events planned throughout the Platinum Jubilee Year to promote environmental awareness and sustainability. 134 ETF remains committed to its mission of ecological restoration and community engagement, embodying the spirit of the Territorial Army’s dedication to national service and environmental stewardship.
