Home Minister Amit Shah Addresses BSF Personnel At Rohitash Post In Jaisalmer, Takes Part In ‘Bada Khana’

Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and is spending the first night of his trip at the border post where he shared meals with jawans during the ‘bada khana’ (feast).

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New Delhi: During the two-day visit to Jaisalmer, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday addressed the Border Security Force personnel at the Rohitash border post, followed by taking part in the ‘Bada Khana’ (feast) with the troopers. 

Addressing the BSF personnel at the Rohitash post along the India-Pakistan border, the Union Home Minister said: “The Narendra Modi government is working to ensure better healthcare facilities and increased housing satisfaction and family time for personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces, who are guarding India's fronts under very difficult conditions”, reported PTI.

He assured that the government will do “everything for the welfare of troops who spend the golden days of their life in protecting the motherland”.

“I am going to stay here tonight with you at this post and this is an attempt to understand your difficulties and to find ways to ease problems,” the Home Minister told troopers, during the ‘Sainik Sammelan’ address.

He recalled how the Rohitash post was witness to the glory and bravery of BSF and army personnel during wars with Pakistan.

Amit Shah stressed that his government has made it a point to ensure healthcare of jawans and their families which is why the ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme has been launched.

“You can get all the health benefits for your families by just swiping a card...this new scheme will lessen the administrative burden on forces like the BSF, unlike earlier where they had to clear a number of health bills,” he said.

Citing official data, Amit Shah said 25 lakh ‘Ayushman CAPF’ health cards have been distributed among personnel of various central armed police forces (CAPFs) till December 2.

In the BSF, 4.5 lakh cards have been distributed, he stated.

“We want to distribute these cards, which will ensure easy healthcare facilities to jawans and their families, to each and every personnel and their kin by February next year,” he added.

He further informed that “we are also working to improve the housing satisfaction level for CAPF personnel and much progress will be achieved by 2024, and we are also working to scientifically ensure that each jawan gets to spend 100 days with their families every year”.

The Union Home Minister asked BSF jawans if they ever thought about why they picked the tough job of working in the force. “130 crore citizens of the country sleep well in the night because they know you are guarding the fronts...they trust you,” he answered.

“You cannot gauge the importance of this belief...the Modi government is making very sincere and humble efforts to acknowledge your hardwork,” Amit Shah assured. He further motivated the troopers saying: “All developments in the country can go on because you are ensuring the internal security of the country so well”.

The Home Minister spoke about various government schemes for the welfare of CAPF troopers like reservation of seats in medical education for their wards, the ‘Bharat ke Veer’ welfare fund, and various other payouts made in case of disability or death.

On a two-day visit to Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, Amit Shah is spending the first night of his trip at the border post where he shared meals with jawans during the ‘Bada Khana’ (feast).

On Sunday, the Union Home Minister will officiate as the chief guest of the 57th BSF raising day celebrations and parade.

He will take salute of the parade and address troops, reported PTI.

Before this interaction with the BSF troops, Amit Shah was given a briefing on the operations and the general security situation of the border area by senior officers of the paramilitary force, including Director General (DG) Pankaj Kumar Singh.

The about 2.65 lakh personnel strong BSF was raised on December 1, 1965. Its primary task is to guard Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.