Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the Border Security Force (BSF) for safeguarding some of the country’s most difficult borders over the last 60 years and said the government is working to further strengthen border security through advanced technology and improved infrastructure.
Addressing a programme, Amit Shah said BSF personnel serve in extremely harsh conditions ranging from minus 45 degrees to over 45 degrees Celsius, from the icy regions of Kashmir to the deserts of Rajasthan and the marshlands of Sir Creek and Harami Nala.
He said more than 2,000 BSF personnel have sacrificed their lives in service of the nation and described the force as the country’s “First Line of Defence”.
The Home Minister said a centre has been established in Banaskantha to help citizens understand the difficult duties performed by BSF personnel. According to him, over 2.5 lakh people have visited the centre in the last month.
Amit Shah said the government has undertaken major efforts to strengthen security infrastructure in the Sir Creek and Harami Nala regions, including construction of watchtowers, roads, fencing, accommodation and drinking water facilities.
He added that the government aims to establish a “quadrangular security grid” and move towards a new concept of “territorial security” involving cooperation between the public, civil administration, police, military and the BSF.
Under the Smart Border Security Project, the government is deploying drones, radars, watchtowers and other advanced technologies to strengthen border security, he said.
