The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) set up in early 1963 in the wake of the Sino-India War to inculcate feelings of national belongingness in the border population and develop their capabilities for resistance through a continuous process of motivation, training, development, welfare programmes and activities, has made a huge difference in the lives of the people living in the border areas, said Lumla MLA Jambey Tashi.
Lumla in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh is located along the Indo-China border.
Addressing the concluding function of Samajik Chetna Abhiyan, being celebrated by the SSB to mark its Golden Jubilee of service to the nation, Tashi lauded the SSB for its activities in skilling the local youth, providing them various assistances and sending them to various parts of the country on exposure trips.
Giving a chronological history of SSB which had started its activities in the then NEFA, North Assam (northern areas of Assam state), North Bengal (northern areas of West Bengal), hills of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Ladak. It was later extended to the other border areas of the country, the people of Tawang, particularly Zemithang circle, who were witnesses to the Chinese aggression, are fully aware of the invaluable services the SSB personnel rendered to the people living in the most difficult border areas against all odds to serve as the sentinel of the frontier.
He extended his gratitude to the force for becoming the friends of the hill people through their yeoman's service by wearing a human face while serving the nation.
"We the border people find in SSB an ever willing friend. We have no words to reciprocate our feelings except that our hearts are with you. Those serving with SSB from different parts of India are not necessarily acquainted with the very strenuous hard border life. But you people serve us to at the call of duty," Tashi added.
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SSB commander Rajiv Rana pointed out that from earlier role of spreading the spirit of patriotism among the border people, its role has changed to guarding the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders now. However, the SSB continued to take up various civic action programmes for the greater welfare of the people reflecting its commitment for the welfare of the people, the commander said and sought the support of the local MLA for facilitating more such events.
Samajik Chetna Abhiyan aimed at SSB's commitment to continue to be friend of the border people, Rana added. He also announced to take rain shed in three villages and toilets in two villages. SSB assistant commandant Khandu Glow pointed out that he had taken nine days to travel to Lumla from Zemithnag which takes four hours now. This could be possible because of the attitude of the people, he said and exhorted the people to make Lumla a model town.
The stalls set up by the SSB for the four-day programme included photo and weapons exhibition, CSD canteen, free health check up camp, disaster management unit besides the stall of NGO Pragya which provided kits for testing anaemia, NHPC besides an exhibition on hydropower had set up a medical camp assisted by the BRO's doctor Navneet Choudhury.
The commander and the MLA gave away awards to the winners of various competitions organized for the event, memento for excellent service, besides solar lights and vegetable seeds to the poor villagers, books to the local schools.