SHILLONG, Dec 10 � Meghalaya Government has proposed to raise two battalions � �ecology� and �home and hearth� for protection of environment and territorial integrity of India.
Rajya Sainik Board director, Brigadier (Retd) WJB Sturgeon said Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has agreed to raise these battalions and would be writing soon to Defence Minister AK Antony.
�These battalions would be raised by the Central Government and will be under the jurisdiction of the Territorial Army,� Sturgeon said after pinning the Armed Forces Flag on Governor, RS Mooshahary and Chief Minister here recently.
The �ecology battalion� would comprise of 1,500 men for restoration of ecology across the State. A company each would be deployed in the seven districts of the State and carry out environment awareness programmes, Sturgeon said.
The �Home and Hearth� battalion, meanwhile, would be an intelligence gathering unit and would share intelligence information with Meghalaya police, Central paramilitary forces, army, air force, and other intelligence forces, he added.
�This will be an important battalion and will help the State in gathering information. Local boys and girls from the State will be recruited in this battalion as they are aware with the terrain and the people,� Sturgeon said.
Sturgeon also said the Meghalaya Government has proposed to set up a temporary Sainik School at Tura. �Its academic session would begin next year. Sixty-seven per cent seats would be reserved for indigenous people of Meghalaya,� he added.
