Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh operationalised the new intelligence set-up of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at a function here on September 18, 2017. This marked the culmination of a long pending aspiration of the force following approval of the Union Home Minister.
SSB has been declared as the Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) for both the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders. Thus, it was felt that a well knit intelligence network of the highest capabilities that can function and deliver would be the prime requirement of comprehensive Border Management. This was quite essential as the operations of SSB have to be Intelligence based to prevent criminals and smugglers from taking advantage of the friendly borders with Nepal and Bhutan. MHA has accordingly sanctioned 650 posts in various ranks from Battalion to Frontier Headquarters, according to a PIB release.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath said the job of SSB is much more demanding and challenging since it is vested the responsibility of guarding open borders unlike other borders. This makes the task much more challenging and demands highest alertness to check illegal activities like smuggling of arms, Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), drugs and human-trafficking, according to the PIB release.
Commending the leadership shown by Archana Ramasundaram, who is the first woman to head any CAPF, the Union Home Minister said she has proved her mettle by leading a paramilitary force with exemplary skills. He asked the forces’ personnel to keep a tab on rumour-mongering over the social media.The Union Home Minister said he has taken steps to ensure a martyr’s family gets atleast Rs 1 crore compensation. He urged the CAPF Officers to adopt a CAPF martyr’s family each.
On the occasion, the Union Home Minister launched the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) Mobile App for CAPF personnel. The App is available on Google Play store and is user friendly. It contains various useful features to facilitate retired CAPFs and Assam Rifles personnel to get their genuine grievances redressed, seek skill development training through National Skill Development Corporation under “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, re-employment and other relevant and important information. Rajnath later released the book “Pride of India”, a compilation on SSB martyrs and awardees. He also distributed scholarships to children of SSB martyrs. Till date 43 Officers and personnel of SSB have sacrificed their lives for national security.