Several initiatives focusing on environment, agriculture, and youth have been rolled out by the Indian Battalion (INDBATT) in their area of operation in sector center. These initiatives, which aim to build community resilience, boost food security were selected after consultation with local communities. They include tree planting, agricultural projects and youth awareness activities.
During consultations with community leaders, challenges identified include the lack of access to tree nurseries, land ownership systems and the unpredictable security situation.
To date, INDBATT has worked with the community to plant thousands of trees like Neem, guavas, pomegranate, avocado, and oranges, as well as vegetable like tomatoes and brinjal. During the rainy season, the battalion distributed over 2,000 saplings to villages, schools, women’s groups, and youth organizations. The goal is to encourage household farming and sustainable agroforestry practices.
Agriculture training in and knowledge sharing
To ensure sustainability, the peacekeepers combine the tree planting efforts with agricultural awareness sessions in Rumajak and nearby villages. Topics covered included soil management, water conservation, crop diversity, organic farming, and the benefits of growing fruit trees.
INDBATT has also set up a demo kitchen garden at their base to showcase drip irrigation, composting, and natural pest control. Community members, especially women and youth, are encouraged to visit the garden to learn techniques to boost agricultural activities.
Youth awareness and drug prevention campaign
With increasing concerns within the community regarding the use of drugs among the youth, INDBATT has launched an awareness campaign dubbed “Say No to Drugs”. Peacekeepers have partnered with schools and community centers to host interactive sessions, using discussions, visual aids, and role-play to highlight the dangers of drug abuse.
Through sustained engagement, several young people have volunteered to be peer advocates in their neighborhoods, helping keep the message alive beyond the sessions.
These combined efforts, restoring the environment, enhancing agricultural skills, and raising awareness among youth, are part of INDBATT’s efforts to build resilience among local communities in their area of operation.