Army takes Arunachal students on skill tour to Darjeeling, Kalimpong

Under the aegis of local military authorities, a Skill Development Eco-Tourism Exposure Tour is being conducted as part of Operation Sadbhavna to enhance practical learning and livelihood-oriented skills among youth of Arunachal Pradesh.

A team comprising 30 students of NEFTU, Aalo, along with two faculty members, was flagged off from Aalo on January 5, 2026 for an educational exposure programme to the hill destinations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

During the Darjeeling leg, the participants gained first-hand insights into the planning and execution of sustainable eco-tourism in a fragile mountain ecosystem. The itinerary included visits to key heritage and eco-tourism sites such as Batasia Loop War Memorial, Ghoom Monastery,

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Tiger Hill, and the Happy Valley Tea Estate to understand tea tourism. The team also interacted with district tourism officials, tea-estate stakeholders and local homestay owners, focusing on community-led hospitality, environmental conservation, responsible waste management and cleanliness practices.

The Darjeeling segment has concluded, and the team has now proceeded to Kalimpong for the next part of the tour. The initiative aims to empower participants to replicate sustainable eco-tourism models in their home region, promoting both conservation and local livelihoods.