UHM Amit Shah interacts with BSF personnel & e-inaugurates Women’s Barracks at Sanchu Post in Bikaner, Rajasthan 

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah interacted with personnel at the Sanchu Post of the Border Security Force (BSF), located on the international border in Bikaner, and virtually inaugurated women’s barracks. On this occasion, Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau, Secretary (Border Management), Director General of BSF, and other senior officers were present.

Addressing the personnel, Shri Addressing the personnel, Amit Shah said that since the establishment of the BSF, border guards have fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the nation’s borders with dedication to duty, bravery, courage, and the spirit of supreme sacrifice, without caring for scorching heat, severe cold, rain, dense forests, snow-covered peaks, or temperatures ranging from 45 degrees to minus 45 degrees Celsius. He said that the sacrifice of more than 2,000 border guards is not only a debt owed by the BSF and the Government of India, but by all 1.4 billion Indians. The Home Minister added that the entire nation is proud of the border guards.

Shri Amit Shah said that the government has decided to ensure the participation of the country’s daughters in every field in a gender-neutral manner and provide them with equal opportunities. He said that earlier governments had not given adequate attention to the role of women in border security and the facilities required for them, but the country’s daughters have gone two steps ahead of men in contributing to national security. He added that by 2030, all necessary facilities for women personnel deployed in border security will be ensured. Shri Shah informed that in Rajasthan, 79 barracks have been sanctioned, and work on 67 of them has already been completed at a cost of around ₹39 crore. Of these, 14 barracks were inaugurated today. The Home Minister said that along the borders guarded by the BSF, a total of 356 barracks will be constructed at a cost of around ₹200 crore. Once completed, these barracks will make duty deployment much more convenient for women personnel.

Shri Amit Shah said that since Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, there has been a fundamental transformation in the country’s security landscape. He said that the armed forces are being modernised and the Border Security Forces are also undergoing modernisation. He added that the Government of India has adopted a policy of ruthlessly giving a befitting reply to any attempt by terrorists. The Home Minister said that ensuring zero infiltration is our responsibility, and that this can be achieved through a quadrilateral security grid.

Shri Amit Shah said that BSF personnel delivered a commendable performance during ‘Operation Sindoor’. He said that wherever the BSF took charge of the frontlines, they stood firm with complete determination.He added that the BSF also played a major role in maintaining the morale of people living in border districts. Wherever required, BSF personnel gave a befitting reply to Pakistan in keeping with their proud tradition.

Union Home Minister expressed happiness over visiting the historic Sanchu post and said that during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Sanchu had a population of more than 500, while the RAC post was located about 25 kilometres behind in Ranjitpura village.He said that when the brave personnel of three RAC units and the 13 Grenadiers received information that Pakistan was attempting to capture Sanchu, they launched a fierce attack and ensured that Sanchu remained secure within India’s borders, forcing Pakistan to retreat. Union Home Minister said that the three RAC units, which are now part of the 12^thBattalion of the BSF, proudly celebrate Vijay Utsav every year. This Victory Day has been named “SanchuDiwas.” He added that this post is inscribed in golden letters in India’s military history.

Shri Amit Shah said that construction work on a lateral road across the entire Rajasthan desert has begun. Home Minister added that the approximately 1,096-kilometre-long lateral road and the 520-kilometre-long axial road will not only provide better facilities to BSF personnel but also improve connectivity.He further said that work on new-design fencing is also underway, and that the task of supplying drinking water through pipelines to nearly 180 border posts in Rajasthan has been completed.

Shri Amit Shah said that the traditional role of the BSF must now be viewed from a new perspective. He said that along with border security, the force must strengthen its preparedness by maintaining constant vigilance against illegal smuggling, infiltration, and cross-border activities.The Home Minister said that a few years ago, the Government of India decided to expand the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 kilometres to 50 kilometres from the border. He said that it is our responsibility to inform the civil administration if any illegal construction takes place within villages located inside this 50-kilometre zone.Union Home Minister added that if any artificial demographic change is taking place within the 50-kilometre radius, the BSF must remain alert and inform the state government. He further said that it is also the responsibility of the force to take all necessary measures to strictly stop the smuggling of narcotics and weapons through drones and other means.

Union Home Minister said that the Government of India will begin installing anti-drone systems within the next six months. However, he stressed that it is equally important to identify who receives the drones once they land on Indian soil and who uses the materials brought by them for anti-national activities.Shri Shah said that there must be constant vigilance on such activities. For their neutralisation, close coordination with civil authorities and district police is essential, and the response must be result-oriented

Shri Amit Shah said that border villages are being developed under the plan envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. He said that the BSF should take the lead under the Vibrant Villages Programme and work towards ensuring 100 percent saturation of welfare schemes of the state governments and the Government of India in border villages.He added that the coming generations in border villages must be made aware and empowered, because only then can the BSF, the armed forces, and vigilant citizens together build a strong security grid.

Union Home Minister said that there must be constant vigilance over all threats originating from across the border. At the same time, attention must also be paid to those within our borders who are used to create internal threats, and strict action should be taken against them in accordance with the law.Shri Shah said that the responsibility for securing the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders lies with the BSF. Along both these borders, we have to strengthen the quadrilateral security grid. To deal with any threat, the BSF, the armed forces, border residents, and the local administration must work jointly; that is why it has been named a quadrilateral grid. Border security is not an isolated duty, but a territorial responsibility shared by all of us.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have made a significant contribution to tree plantation efforts. He said that over the past five years, personnel of CAPFs have planted nearly 7 crore 35 lakh trees.Shri Shah added that, in view of climate change and rising global temperatures, such a large number of trees will prove extremely beneficial in the future. The Home Minister also planted a Khejri sapling and said that the Khejri tree is like a wish-fulfilling tree for the desert region.