How is Arunachal's BRO Engaging with Civil Society and Scholars?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BRO's outreach programme enhances community engagement.
- It offers career opportunities to youth.
- Interactions between academia and BRO personnel foster knowledge exchange.
- Local administration support is pivotal for success.
- Project Brahmank plays a vital role in socio-economic development.
Itanagar, Sep 6 (NationPress) The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), part of the Ministry of Defence, initiated an outreach exchange programme to connect with civil society members through ‘Project Brahmank’ in Pasighat, located in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang District on Saturday.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat explained that this week-long Outreach Exchange Programme was designed to cultivate a structured dialogue between BRO personnel and local civil administration, academic institutions, and the youth.
The programme aimed to elevate awareness regarding BRO’s mission and its contributions over the years while motivating young and capable individuals to consider a rewarding career within the organisation.
Simultaneously, BRO personnel gained valuable insights from academic institutions through interactive exchanges, according to the spokesman.
In this unique exchange model, BRO teams, including officers, JCOs, engineers, supervisors, clerical staff, and pioneers, visited notable institutions such as Arunachal Pradesh University, Apex University, and Rashtra Raksha University.
Conversely, faculty members, administrative officials, PhD scholars, and postgraduate students from these institutions visited the Project Brahmank headquarters, where they participated in presentations, briefings, movie screenings, and demonstrations of engineering equipment to gain a comprehensive understanding of BRO’s operations.
According to Lt Col Rawat, the outreach programme experienced enthusiastic participation, with around 120 BRO personnel visiting universities, while approximately 75–80 faculty members and students engaged in interactive sessions at Project Brahmank.
The events at the academic institutions were attended by Vice-Chancellors and Principals, while at Project Brahmank, the visiting teams were hosted by Col Ashish Raisinghani, the Officiating Chief Engineer of Project Brahmank. This initiative was bolstered by the strong support from Sonalika Jiwani, the Deputy Commissioner, who encouraged regional universities and institutes to actively participate.
Coordinated efforts between Project Brahmank and local educational leaders ensured that both sides maximized the benefits of the programme.
During his remarks, Col Raisinghani emphasized the crucial role of Project Brahmank in linking remote and strategic areas of Arunachal Pradesh, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.
He added that beyond its core infrastructure responsibilities, BRO is dedicated to welfare-oriented activities such as medical camps, cleanliness drives, skill development, and motivational programmes.
He further stated, “We believe that such collaborative efforts will not only strengthen the connection between BRO and local communities but will also open new avenues of opportunity for the youth of the Siang districts.”
“We eagerly anticipate continued support and a fruitful partnership with the civil administration in this meaningful endeavour,” Col Raisinghani added.