Can One Person Make a Difference – Part 2

In my journey to various schools conducting Career Guidance Workshops, I happened to visit Varanasi for the first time. A very Holy City, it was my first experience to see the Ganges whom the locals call as Ganga Ji, and the famous Ghats and Arti’s. I was uniquely privileged to attend the Subah-e-Benaras function and take a heritage walk along the cobbled streets visiting many mandirs and ghats. The Workshop at APS Varanasi was superbly organised. But what I am writing is neither about Varanasi nor the Career Guidance program.

What caught my eye was the kind of changes one man has brought to the 39 Gorkha Training Center. This is not just praise for Brig Anirban Datta, SM, the present Commandant, but to his entire Team 39 GTC who have been able to milk the MES bull and transform the entire station. And I got this information from the ground, from my driver who spoke with immense pride and the Sub Maj who came to meet me because I had once served with another brave Gorkha Officer, Late Col MN Rai, SC, YSM.

Several years back I had written about the great transformation, Brig Gurvinder Sahota (Retd), Army Air Defence, then Cdr of an Infantry Bde brought about in Shajahanpur Cantt because of his immense knowledge of Defence Works and MES procedures. That story is given here: https://www.sajanspeaks.com/can-one-person-make-a-difference/ . Brig Anirban has taken his advice and in addition worked alongside with another friend Col Mohit Nangia (Retd), Engineers, who is a living encyclopedia on MES Matters. The transformation that has taken place in the station is seen to be believed.

Many might be wondering that this piece is to praise one man. No! He has nothing to gain from all this, as he will retire in a few months. My aim to bring this piece, to you is to make this a case study or an example for many other Centre Commandants and Station Commanders to ideate/ emulate and implement what this one man and his Team has done, following all existing procedures, flouting no norms and coordinating with everyone up and down the chain. I should also appreciate the Chief Engineer, Central Command, Maj Gen C Jayachandran and the GOC Sub Area, Maj Gen Rajesh Bhatt for supporting and enabling the ideas to be implemented.

Administrative Transformation

So what did I see. The list is huge. Let me restrict myself to just the Top 12 things being transformed at 39 Gorkha Training Center.

MES Quarters Renovation: Years of poor maintenance had resulted in seepage, wet walls and electric shocks from walls, overflowing tanks with no access to stop them bcos there were no stairs. Today several of the houses are looking as if they are brand new and many OTMs are under full renovation.

Absolute Cleanliness: As I went around, I noticed one strange phenomenon. There was no litter, absolute cleanliness in the family quarters, despite monsoon season, no grass nor weeds. I asked how they managed. The driver told me that one day the Commandant himself came and started cleaning up the place, the jawans saw that and from then on, every house ensures that there is no litter around. A unsung example of truly, Leading from the Front!

Sainik Sadan: Varanasi being a holy city, there is a tremendous inflow of personnel to visit the city. There was hardly any accommodation. 39 GTC converted a dilapidated hostel into 13 double bed Guestrooms with toilet and mess. I found the facilities simply outstanding. And these rooms can be booked online by all ranks.

Manokaamna: Several retiring soldiers come to the station for their Discharge Drill. They usually were given accommodation in the lines. 39 GTC converted old quarters into 75 guestrooms for these people. Now the retiring soldiers can bring their entire family to stay with them while they get their papers ready. These rooms consist of two fully furnished rooms with fully functional kitchenettes where they can stay with pride and happiness. I met a few of these families who had come from far flung mountains and Nepal. I could see them happy with the respectable standards they have been offered.

Auditorium. For central functions there was a huge shed covered with tin sheets. Today the same structure has been modified into a 500-seater full-fledged Auditorium with AC all powered by Solar. I was privileged to conduct the Workshop in this very same hall.

Lack of Transport: Centres normally do not have many light vehicles and moving inside the huge area for the men was an issue. About 25 Battery driven vehicles have been procured which has now become an environmentally friendly alternate mode of transport. And these batteries run vehicles are charged from the Solar power generated on the Auditorium roof.

For families there is a fully battery-operated TATA ACE converted into an air conditioned 11 seater coach named SOLTINI. They are now getting a full electric coach. They also have a Battery-operated Vegetable cum Bakery shop on wheels which go to the family lines selling essential stuff so that the families need not go individually. The bakery is a big hit.

Waste Water from Railways: The Varanasi railway station nearby discharges huge amount of water from the railway yard. This used to flow through the Training Center and swamp some parts. The same has been harnessed well using CSR funds and planting a particular plant that eats into bacteria has largely solved the issue. There is even a turbine fitted which is converting the flow into electricity. I could not see the drain as it was fully filled with plants with flowers while they were biologically cleaning the wastewater beneath them.

Tattopani: The weather is humid and there is a need to take bath at least twice a day. It was also noticed that the recruits during their hectic schedule try to avoid bathing leading to skin issues. A Community Hot water bathing hall using solar energy was created which is very popular with recruits. The wastewater is duly treated and used for community kitchen which is providing additional nutrition to these recruits. Incidentally Tattopani is a Hot water Spring in Nepal.

Solar Assisted Clothes Drying Shed: The humid weather makes one sweat more than other stations. And the recruits have limited clothes. So, they ended up wearing wet clothes leading to skin issues. 39 GTC has come out with a unique cloth drying shed. They used waste materials in creating a nearly 50m shed whose roof is purely transparent. They have adequate exhaust fans and enough clothes lines. Using the heat of the sunlight the clothes dry faster. I could even see shoes being dried in this facility. I think this is a must in all training centers.

Community Launderette: Using waste plastic, an entire building has been made where the families can wash their laundry. Several washing machines and Electric Irons have been placed for community use. And the best part is that all these are Solar powered. The wastewater is again harnessed for the community kitchen.

Shopping: A visit to Benares is not complete without buying their elegant silk sarees. However, the shops would fleece you. I heard a story that one senior officer was charged 15K for a saree whose actual cost was not more than 4.5 K. 39 GTC has created a Kashika Shop which is entirely run by the families. They have direct access to the sarees from the weaver’s association and hence the rates are the best one can get. I scored a few brownie points from my wife when I presented her a beautiful silk saree picked up from this shop.

They also have a fantastic shopping complex called Jom Som Bazaar, named after a small market place in the Mustang Valley in Nepal…where the treks to the Himalayas start. This complex houses all artisans essential for a cantonment.

Driving Range for Retiring Personnel: Most of these Gorkhas never had access to driving practice in the mountains. A driving range has been set up so that all retiring personnel can pick up driving and get the licence before they leave so that they could utilise this skill in getting their own vehicles. This is a hit amongst these Gorkha soldiers

Professional Training Transformation

Some of us may feel that we are only discussing Administrative Changes. But what fascinated me was that equal thrust and innovative ideas were implemented in the Training arena too which is the focus of any training Center. Let us look at what they have done here.

Sport Medicine/ Nutrition: The Agniveer training has caused a severe reduction of the training time. So when a recruit is put through a packed schedule it takes a toll on their body and results in stress injuries. To overcome this, 39 GTC has coordinated with BHU with the leaders in the field of Sports Medicine and Nutrition. They set up a modern sports medicine lab with top class instruments/ bone density meters, and consoles where each person can continuously test their parameters. Scientific ways of training are being implemented so that the muscles do not break down. The Nutrition charted out is supplemented from their kitchen garden and is ensuring the recruit always remains fit. I am told 39 GTC is the only Center that produces recruits who complete Class 2 rope standards within the short training time.

Computer Simulated Shooting Range: 39 GTC is one of the few centers equipped with a fully functional simulated shooting range which gives a realistic feel of shooting all weapons in an Infantry Unit. So, they are not dependent on availability of ranges nor the weather. They are now in the process of procuring a realistic containerised shooting range where they can fire actual weapons too.

Walk in Sand Models: 39 GTC has created walk in sand models of various terrain from mountains to deserts where a soldier can understand the various landmarks / terminologies, practice indication of landmarks and learn about siting of weapons to obviate defiladed fire and how to bring about enfilade fire. The learning has become very easy due to the visual effect.

Fully Automated Multimedia Studio: I also visited their fully functional Multimedia Lab where they are making high quality training movies regarding all weapons and their functioning so that the recruits can understand the lessons easily.

Drone Obstacle Course: The recent wars in the middle east / Russia have brought out that drones would be dominating the battlefield. A new Drone flying obstacle course is being built so that all drone pilots can hone their skills.

3 D Printed Drones: A lab has been set up to teach recruits in building drones. I was amazed to see 4 x 3D printers churning out drones. Then they add all electronics and motors and 39 GTC is building Mil Grade drones. I was really amazed at this. They have been able to cut costs of drones by nearly 75 %.

Printing Press: A modern printing press is being set up which can print even T Shirts and Mugs and various other training needs from posters to pamphlets. This would save a huge amount of money every year.

All Weather Electronic Display Boards: All areas have been installed with huge electronic boards that give out info and entertainment. I noticed these in all major areas like family quarters, lines, shopping centers and retiring personnel area where relevant info/ news is being broadcast.

The entire station has been transformed. I would wish that all Center Commandants visit Varanasi and see for themselves what all can they do in transforming their stations and bring about meaningful changes in the daily lives of our soldiers, keeping carbon footprint low, and also increase the training effectiveness. This write up is a small contribution in bringing awareness to the rank and file of the Armed Forces that we all can do lot more than we can ever imagine. If only we want to..

So go ahead and Create the Magic. You may contact these three learned men for your own stations and how you can Make the Difference

Jai Hind!