MANGALDAI, July 13 � The 7th Raising Day of the 37th Battallion of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) operating along the Indo-Bhutan international border in neighbouring Udalguri district was celebrated at its temporary headquarter premises here at Gelaidingi and all Border Out Post (BOP)s deployed along Indo-Bhutan border recently.
Various traditional sporting activities like breaking of earthen pots with eyes covered, musical chairs, needle & thread race, jelebi race for children, tug-of-war besides food stuff competition were organised for members of the families of the officers and jawans. Meanwhile, BS Jaswal, Commandant of the battallion congratulating his fellow officers and jawans on this special occasion, in the opening ceremony of the day-long programme stated that during the last seven years, the battallion has made significant achievements by checking illegal transportation of forest products, killing and smuggling of wildlife, seizing contraband items, arms and ammunition and arrest of many criminals and anti-social elements. He attributed these achievements to the untiring sincere efforts of the officers and jawans serving the battallion. He added that land for the battallion head quarter and all BOPs has also been acquired and permanent construction work is likely to begin very soon.
It may be mentioned here that perception management programmes such as imparting free training on handling of computers to the border youths, training on animal husbandry and agriculture to border farmers besides construction of market shed, bus waiting sheds and water tanks, distribution of sewing machines, dragon lights and various sports items etc., in the area for the welfare of border population, holding of medical civic action and veterinary civic action programmes regularly in the border area to take care of health of human as well as livestock has drawn overwhelming response from the local masses.
