Home Minister Rajnath Singh today called for a two-pronged role of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) while safeguarding the country's borders.
The forces have to regulate the traffic between India and its friendly countries like Nepal and Bhutan as well as perform as cultural ambassadors while dealing with people of these countries, he said while addressing the 'Passing Out Parade' of Assistant Commandants of SSB here.
The force received praise from the minister who stated that SSB plays an important role in curbing trans border economic offenses.
Singh also announced that the border areas of the country will be brought to the FM radio network.
108 probationer officers including 4 lady officers passed out today to become full fledged officers in the SSB.
The Home Minister gave away awards to the officers who performed their best during the one-year long training.
Probationer Prabhakar Singh won the overall best trainee award along with the 'Sword of honour'.
Kanishk Choudhary won the best in indoor subjects award and Harish Kumar Singh bagged the prize in outdoor subjects.
Best shooting award went to Deepak Kumar Meena and R M Yarmi was adjudged the best Departmental Trainee.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Singh said religious tolerance is part of the Indian ethos and its social fabric.
"Many religions with their various sects coexist in India. Inclusiveness and the spirit of peaceful coexistence is the most outstanding feature of our cultural heritage," he said in reply to a question about US President Barack Obama's recent statement saying that the current atmosphere of religious intolerance in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi if he was alive.
One of the highlights of the parade was that it was led by a woman trainee Commandant Nansy Sigala.
S Bandyopadhyay, Director, SSB Academy said he personally took the initiative to ensure that a woman trainee leads the parade.
BJP MP from Haridwar Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishan and SSB DG B D Sharma were also present on the occasion.
