Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah attended the 61^st Raising Day function of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Siliguri in West Bengal. Union Home Minister also E-inaugurated Integrated Check Point (ICP) Agartala and newly constructed residential complex of BGF at Petrapole. On this occasion, Director (IB), Secretary, Border Management, MHA, DG, SSB and several others dignitaries were present. 

At the beginning of his address, Union Home Minister paid tributes to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in protecting the country's borders and eliminating Left Wing Extremism from the eastern region. Home Minister told the families of the martyrs that the sacrifice of their brave sons has given the country a new life, energy and enthusiasm and the entire country is proud of them. Shri Shah said that in 61 years, SSB has received 4 Padma Shri, 1 Kirti Chakra, 6 Shaurya Chakra, 2 President's Gallantry Medals, 25 Police Gallantry Medals and 35 Gallantry Medals. He said that these national level honours received by SSB show how determined the SSB jawans are to discharge their duties.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Sashastra Seema Bal has done a unique job of connecting the culture, language and rich heritage of the border villages of India with the mainstream of the country. He said that the SSB has fulfilled the motto of "Service, Security and Brotherhood" through its duties. He said that SSB has carried forward the traditions of trust, heritage and friendship with Nepal and Bhutan.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had adopted the policy of one border, one force, after which SSB was given the responsibility of vigilance and security of the border with Nepal and Bhutan. He said that since its foundation in 1963, SSB has generated a great sense of patriotism and attachment with India in the border villages. Shri Shah said that the countrymen are assured of their safety because SSB jawans are standing guard at the 2450-kilometre-long Indian border with Nepal and Bhutan.

Shri Amit Shah said that in its glorious history of 61 years, SSB has personified the slogan of Service, Security and Brotherhood and spirit of service to the nation, devotion and nation first. Shri Shah said that the SSB jawans have very proactively stopped the narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, arms smuggling and infiltration of anti-national elements at the border. He said that SSB has played an important role in making the entire eastern region Naxal-free in coordination with CRPF and local police force.

Union Home Minister said that the SSB has played a pivotal role in making Bihar and Jharkhand Naxal-free after almost four decades. He said that the Siliguri Corridor is a very important area of ​​​​eastern India and the deployment of SSB here is a reason for reassurance and confidence for the whole nation. He said that due to vigilance of the SSB, we have been successful in creating an environment of trust in the eastern region.

Shri Amit Shah said that while respecting the dignity of the friendly relations between India and Nepal, the removal of more than 1100 encroachments in No Man's Land by the SSB is a great achievement. Shri Shah said that SSB has adopted a zero-tolerance policy in last 3 years against encroachment on government land within 15 km of the border. He said that SSB has been successful in freeing thousands of acres of government land from encroachment.

Shri Amit Shah said that SSB is continuously working to remove encroachment from government land, stopping smuggling of narcotics, weapons, wildlife, forest products and counterfeit currency with a zero-tolerance policy. He said that SSB has seized more than 4,000 smugglers, more than 16000 kg of narcotics, 208 weapons and a huge amount of ammunition. He said that SSB has arrested 183 human traffickers and rescued 301 victims, including 231 girls. Shri Shah said that SSB has definitely played a huge role in protecting the dignity of women.

Shri Amit Shah said that SSB has performed its duty with full alertness even in terrorism-affected Jammu and Kashmir. He said that deployment of SSB in Jammu and Kashmir has given a big boost to all the security forces. Home Minister said that in Jammu and Kashmir, SSB jawans killed more than 19 terrorists and arrested 14 terrorists in different operations. He also said that SSB has arrested more than 600 Maoists in the last 7 years, killed more than 15 Maoists and 28 Maoists surrendered due to SSB's crackdown.

Union Home Minister said that SSB’s duties are not limited to security but the force has also joined various relief operations and helped people with full readiness during disasters. He said that be it flood or landslide, these jawans have carried out relief operations in affected areas without caring for their lives and have stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of the country. Shri Shah said that the selfless service and determination of SSB jawans has saved the lives of millions of people and it has created a good feeling towards SSB in the hearts of the people of the country.

Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government has been making the lives of CAPF personnel easier with schemes like Ayushman Card, Barracks, CAPF e-Housing and Scholarships. He said that in the last 10 years, the Modi government has made more than 41 lakh Ayushman cards for the welfare of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), through which Rs 1600 crore has been paid. Along with this, 13,000 houses, 113 barracks and e-Awas portal have been created through which thousands of houses have been allotted. He said that so far 6 lakh 31 thousand 346 force personnel have got the benefit of CAPF e-housing portal.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in the sporting arena as well, SSB has performed brilliantly in national and international competitions and won 72 medals for the country. He said that the trained personnel of SSB have prepared the youth of border areas for self-employment by giving them training in many areas like beekeeping, computer, mobile repairing and driving. Along with this, under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, SSB has also made a huge contribution in making about 36000 youth aware about the menace of drug addiction. Home Minister said that SSB has taken forward the tree plantation campaign of CAPFs and our CAPF jawans have served Mother Earth by planting more than 6 crore trees till 15 November 2024.

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RK / VV / RR / PS