Date:13/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081350830300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Idea of Territorial Army

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The “litter cops” is the idea of Major B.N. Nandu Kumar of 106 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army — TA) Para, Bangalore, aimed at keeping the city clean and also providing employment to TA personnel when their services are not required for the Indian Army.

The Territorial Army proposed this idea in December last year, but the BBMP could not implement it despite being announced in its budget presented on March 28. Maj. Kumar told The Hindu the scheme was chalked out to give jobs to TA personnel when they are not employed by the Army (TA personnel are temporarily employed in the Army whenever need arises) and to help the city administration to maintain cleanliness. He said that it is difficult to deploy personnel immediately on the job as the BBMP delayed the process of implementation.

“We were ready in February 2008. Now it takes time to gather the personnel as some might be already employed in some private firms till they are called for military services. Moreover, the BBMP has not approached us yet and it may take about two months once we get official communication from the BBMP,” said Maj. Kumar.

He said the selected personnel will be given training before deploying them for the task.