Sashastra Seema Bal
Golden Jubilee Raising Day
By Dr Arvind Kumar
20th December marks the 50th Raising Day (Golden Jubilee) of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which was set up in early 1963 in the wake of the Indo-China conflict to inculcate feelings of national belonging in the border population and develop their capabilities for resistance through a continuous process of motivation, training, development, welfare programmes and activities in the border areas. In the past Fifty years of its existence, SSB has endeavoured to present a benign face of the government among border populace in the far flung and inaccessible areas subscribing to the ethos of Service, Security and Brotherhood. The local populace always found SSB standing steadfastly with them during difficult times. Pursuant to the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on reforming the National Security System, SSB was declared as a border guarding force and lead intelligence agency (LIA) for Indo-Nepal border (January, 2001) and Indo-Bhutan border (March, 2004).
The Union Home Minister Shri Sushilkumar Shinde took the salute which was followed by a magnificent march past and felicitation of the awardees of President Police Medal & Indian Police Medal. The Union Home Minister applauded the performance of SSB in border guarding duties on Indo-Nepal & Bhutan borders, in Internal Security duties in J&K and in anti naxal operations in Bihar & Jharkhand. He said that SSB is the second largest border guarding force of the country and had the distinction of being the first to deploy women contingent on the border guarding duties.
DG, SSB Shri Arun Chaudhary highlighted the role of SSB and its operational achievements. He also presented the list of activities organized in the Golden Jubilee year such as scaling of the Mt. Everest, 1150 kms long river rafting expedition from Dharchula to Patna, release of a commemorative postal Stamp and a seminar on Indo-Nepal & Bhutan relations.
Presently, SSB is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of the Union with us charter and role and are the Border Guarding Force for the open and porous Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, as well as the lead intelligence agency for the same area.
There are new emerging challenges to India’s national security. It is in this perspective that the Sashastra Seema Bal has been mandated to guard these borders and curb infiltration, smuggling and anti-national activities along these porous borders. The officers and jawans of the SSB perform the assigned task with due diligence and dedication while continuing to adhere to its motto of service, security and brotherhood.
