Aizawl: Mizoram CM Lalduhoma on Monday flagged off the first batch of 144 Mizoram youths selected for the 166 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army (Home & Hearth), Assam.The batch includes 135 males and nine females, and will leave for Shillong on May 15 for training-related formalities ahead of the start of training next month.Addressing the event, Lalduhoma said it was “a proud and historic day for Mizoram.” He said he had earlier been unaware of the Territorial Army, but after learning about it he appealed to the Centre to sanction a Mizo battalion. He said initial approval was for 70 recruits, but after further negotiations the sanctioned strength rose to 144 even before recruitment began.He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.Lalduhoma said efforts were underway to secure additional recruitment quotas and urged more Mizo youths to join, calling the TA both a source of employment and “a noble service dedicated to national security,” and “a path toward disciplined and responsible living.”Telling the recruits they would serve as pioneers and representatives of Mizo youth, he urged them to give their best, uphold Mizo values wherever they go, and bring honour to the state.Home minister K Sapdanga said the Territorial Army combines “civilian excellence with military discipline,” and offers honour, dignity and character-building opportunities. He urged the recruits to perform their duties faithfully and said during difficult phases of training they should remember, “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”Commander, TA Group Eastern Command Brig. Manoj Kumar Patel, credited the CM’s initiative for the establishment of the Mizo Territorial Army and said there were still many vacancies the force wanted to fill.Of the 144 recruits, the 135 male recruits will train in Shillong, while the nine female recruits will proceed to Bangalore for training.
