Shillong, April 12: BSF organized a Civic Action Programme on 12th April 2013 in the area of Muktapur of distt West Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The programme was chaired by Sh. Sudesh Kumar, IPS IG BSF Meghalaya Ftr. Dorbar heads of all the villages, local prominent leaders, Local Customs Officials and other officials of the State administration also chaired the programme along with the IG BSF. Appx 500 People from village Dawki, Bakur, Hal Thimai, Nayabazar, Nongskhen, Lyngkhat, Nangtyngur, Pyrdwah, Umkrem, Amlymping, Naljuri, Rongkhong, Muktapur, Hawitilla, Amjolong, Amki, Lakra Basti, Hawai Basti, Nongjuri, Amio and Tishang Basti vill of distt West Jaintia Hills participated in the programme.
Civic Action programme are being conducted as a central plan to improve the quality of life and welfare of the border population, upgrade the existing infrastructure and create new avenues for bringing positive changes in the life of the border population. This is one of the many public-outreach programme, BSF has undertaken to improve the life of border population. BSF had been organizing such programmes in the past and will continue to do so in the future also.
The items that are distributed to the people of that area are,Power Tiller,Syntax tanks / Water storage tanks, Water pump,Plastic chairs/ tables,Ceiling fan with regulator,Sports items,Utensils for village Community Centres,Stationery items/education material to all the schools.,Gum boot, Rain coat & Torch light
While handing over key of Power Tiller to villagers, IG, BSF described “this as a key to prosperity as it will help in improving the agriculture yield.” The prosperity of the border population has a direct effect on the border management. IG emphasized that the area being unfenced is prone to criminal activities however the villagers have always cooperated BSF in countering the criminal activities, and expected that they will continue their support and also give their consent for erection of fence.
Shri Sudesh Kumar,IPS,IG has given special attention to the border population and met them frequently in the Khasi/Jaintia as well as in the Garo Hills. This is the second consecutive year when under the leadership of Shri Sudesh Kumar, IPS, IG BSF, Meghalaya Ftr, the Power tillers and other items, which will have the lasting impact on the lives of the border villagers, were handed over to the villagers of the border villages. It may be mentioned that this year also BSF is spending Rs. 50 Lakhs in the State of Meghalaya, for uplifting the economic activities, cultivation, education, health, and various other facilities in the border areas.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief guest Shri Sudesh Kumar, IPS in his address to the gathering, welcomed all the Sardar, headman/ secretaries, other villagers and the local Govt. Officials and informed that BSF is meant for the security of the border population and to promote safe, secure and prosperous border as border population is the most important component in the Border Management. The BSF and the border population together are complementary to each other. IG told that the initiatives taken last year by BSF under his leadership have shown positive results and expected that it will further improve the strong bonding between the border guards and the border population. He also told that BSF in the year 2012 has conducted Employment linked Vocational Training programme at Tura where 100 ladies were imparted training on stitching and out of these 50 ladies were local. BSF is again planning to organise Employment-linked Vocational Training programme at border in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya.
He also asked border population to come forward with more and more valuable ideas which can be implemented for better border management and also for improving the living standard of border population. He urged border population to share information about any stranger/unknown person visiting their villages and smugglers, militants etc. IG emphatically said that smugglers bring FICN, which destabilizes the economy and ultimately impact adversely on the life. IG BSF appreciated the local villagers for helping the BSF in fighting against the militant activities of HNLC. He also praised the villagers for not acceding to the election boycott call of HNLC and seeked continued cooperation of the border people in fighting against the militant/criminal activities.(SP News)
