Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS) conducted a unique programme from November 19 to 23 to take the people to country’s borders to generate a feeling of oneness with the soilders and the people living in border areas. Selected people from different parts of the country travelled to different borders and met the soldiers, interacted with the local authorities and people residing in those areas. India’s land border runs 15,106.7 kms.
More than 10,000 people of various backgrounds came together for this initiative. They met the soldiers and administrators in more than 469 border posts. A total of 88 base camps were created for this huge group to meet, assemble and proceed to various posts.
The FINS feels that increased terrorist attacks, naxalism, cross border infiltration, arms smuggling along the porous sections necessitate strong and immediate action on the part of the government. There is a dire need to establish sustained communication between the residents of the border villages and the local administration. The resolve of both the House of Parliament taken on November 14, 1962 and February 22, 1994 to evacuate infiltrators and protect the borders need to be implemented with immediate effect, it was emphasised. The FINS urged the government to allow every citizen to spend at least one day in five years at the border. It is for the first time in the history of the country that common people in such a large number visited the borders and interacted with the soldiers.
(FOC)
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