New Delhi: The Territorial Army has approximately 44,400 personnel across 59 units and provides the armed forces with trained manpower that can be mobilised whenever additional capacity is required, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.
Singh was chairing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi on 6 August. The meeting reviewed the mandate, role and achievements of the Territorial Army.
Officials briefed committee members on the force’s responsibilities and activities, while the members offered suggestions to further strengthen its capabilities and effectiveness.
Singh described the Territorial Army as a living embodiment of the “Citizen-Soldier” concept, under which its personnel continue with civilian professions while remaining trained and prepared for military service.
“The Territorial Army is a living embodiment of the ‘Citizen-Soldier’ concept. While its members engage in civilian pursuits, they simultaneously don the uniform to safeguard the borders and maintain internal security,” he said.
According to the Defence Minister, the Territorial Army creates surge capacity for the armed forces by maintaining a trained reserve that can be deployed when required.
He said personnel returning to civilian life after completing their military tenure also serve as a link between society and the armed forces and encourage young people to consider careers in defence.
Apart from its security responsibilities, the Territorial Army is also involved in disaster response, environmental conservation and social initiatives.
Singh said its personnel have served as first responders during natural disasters and participated in relief and rescue operations, including medical assistance, during the Kerala floods, the Odisha cyclone and recent floods in Assam.
The Territorial Army’s Ecological Task Forces have planted approximately 10 crore saplings, with a reported survival rate of between 80 and 85 per cent, he said.
The plantation activities contribute to the government’s Mission LiFE and Panchamrit climate commitments, according to the Defence Minister.
Singh also appreciated the role of Territorial Army personnel deployed in Jammu and Kashmir in expanding the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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