1 Dec : The government has approved atleast eight locations in the country for the BSF to establish its new battalion headquarters.The force, which is largely deployed along the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, is now actively acquiring land and constructing buildings at these places for stationing its men and other logistics.
"The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the force’s demand with priority. This will go a long way in ensuring that the jawans, largely deployed at the Northern and Eastern borders, can remain in proximity to their families," Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal said in New Delhi on Monday.
"There has been an increase in incidents of suicide in the force owing to stress… by being deployed at these places this problem will get addressed to a large extent," he said at BSF’s 43rd Raising Day celebrations.
The Minister said that the first woman battalion of the two-lakh plus force has already been raised and will help on both the borders in performing frisking and other duties.
"200 women constables out of the total 612 recruited have already finished their 36-week training and are ready to serve the nation," Jaiswal said.
The Minister also said that various demands made by the force with respect to the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations like hardship allowance, high altitude allowance, re-reinstatement of the post of Lance Naik and Naik will be resolved soon.
Jaiswal also said that the government has approved the ration allowances during leave days for the troops.
"During the leave period the personnel will get full ration allowance for the first seven days while for the next week half of the ration allowance would be given. It has been approved by the Home Ministry," he said.
Director-General BSF M L Kumawat said the foremost priority was to enhance facilities for the troops stationed at border areas, modernisation of the weaponry and improvement in training imparted to the personnel.
"My men are posted at far flung areas… they come across regular instances of smuggling, human trafficking and other crimes. They are fighting a proxy war," he said during his inaugural address.
Arrangements would be made to enhance their residential facilities and education for their children, Kumawat said.
1,370 jawans and officers of the force had laid down their lives in the line of duty since 1990.The jawans put up an impressive march past on the occasion. Daring stunts by "daredevils" team riding their motorbikes was the highlight of the function.
The popular BSF camel contingent and the dog squad also took part in the parade.Tableaux depicting the force’s advancement in the field of communication and weapon’s excellence were also part of the march past.
Security forces should be ready for bigger challenges: Jaiswal
Days after the country saw one of the bloodiest terror attacks in Mumbai, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal has asked security forces to be prepared for "bigger challenges than this".
"Keep yourselves prepared for bigger challenges than this in future," Jaiswal said while addressing Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at New Delhi on Monday.
"The conditions right now in the country are a testing time for the forces … a lot of challenges are being created for the internal security of our country," Jaiswal said during the 43rd Raising Day celebrations of the BSF in New Delhi.
While referring to the Mumbai siege which ended on 29th November, the Minister said that the "country’s image is being maligned…. Innocent people of the country are being killed… foreign guests who have come to our country are being killed."
"In future if such forces rear their head, we will eliminate them," Jaiswal said.The Minister assured the troops that the government would do the needful to address all concerns of security forces.
Jaiswal also said that there is need to strengthen the intelligence network at the state and district levels in order to thwart terror attacks.
"You will see a lot of decisions being taken in future that are neeeded to tackle terror and other security related issues," Jaiswal said on the sidelines of the Raising Day function.
Jaiswal ruled out taking the help of foreign investigating agencies like the Scotland Yard and FBI for the probe into Mumbai terror strikes.