Siachen Brigade Indian Army

Staying healthy brews contentment. Staying healthy is everyone’s right. The key to health is contained in cleanliness. Gandhi used to maintain that we believe that if any place or thing is to be cleaned it’s with a dirty cloth. This practice renders that object even more soiled and we are further distanced from health. We get health and sturdiness from these minute perceptions and information. Keeping this type of consciousness and temperament in mind, the soldiers and other officials living in Siachen have made a cleanliness campaign part of their daily tasks. This work is very admissible and provides encouragement.

On 13 April 1984, after seeing the Siachen struggle the Indian government resolved to initiate “Operation Meghdoot’s” and attained success. This “Operation Meghdoot” resolution was a unique and unforgettable initiative as well as an experiment in history. It has been more than 35 years since the Indian soldiers are challenging the Siachen glacier. It’s the display of their courage. Despite the numerous trials, the warriors deployed in Siachen glacier are instilled with immeasurable confidence and pride. For their humane lives and destiny’s pride, they serve their motherland in the most inaccessible region of the world.

Due to special geo-spatial and political circumstances, the army establishment in this area is necessary. Although given the situation, there is heavy deployment here, this will continuously be done in the coming years.

The entire area is constantly covered in a white layer and remains largely inaccessible. The weather here is bad and the forthcoming weather can’t be assessed. Adverse conditions persist. The entire atmosphere here brims with biodiversity. It houses snow leopards, white bears and many other species. The constant presence of the army in Siachen has had multifoil effects on the biotic and abiotic elements.

The waste generated from the army presence is not taken care of properly due to which imbalances emerge. The army congregation is another name for discipline. The armies are constantly marching towards development.    

Development is the aim of the army. The soldiers posted in Siachen have initiated the mechanisms to protect the ecosystem. Presently, plantation drives have also been conducted regularly. A continuous campaign of cleanliness is being undertaken.

Under the leadership of Brigadier Bhupesh Hada, the “Siachen Warriors” organization was brought into existence. For the safety and protection of the ecosystem, it created the ‘waste management system’. This is a pleasant resolution to protect the environment. In January 2018, a campaign was commenced by Siachen Brigade under the name of the Siachen Swachhta Abhiyan (SSA). Today, through this initiative, Siachen’s environment is constantly being strengthened. The Siachen Cleanliness Campaign was determined under the two task forces. Both Nubra and Shyok have constantly worked for spreading awareness about waste management, with the help of the army segments as well as the locals. They also ensure that the production of waste is minimised and the generated waste is correctly processed. In this process, waste is segregated into bio-spontaneous waste metallic scraps and non-state scraps.

The energy emanated from their decomposition is used by the units doing administrative work there. Sign boards are also employed for protecting as well as supporting the environment of the valley. Moreover, carrying forward this effort the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary has been declared as the ‘no polythene’ sector.

The manner in which the Siachen army segment has preserved and secured Siachen’s environment with its skills is commendable. Identifying their dedication and steadiness for the cleanliness campaign, Sant Eshwer Foundation has chosen them for the Sant Eshwer Vishisht Sewa Samman for the year 2019.