Union HM Amit Shah inaugurates BSF's 'Prahari' app

New Delhi, December 30

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary, Director General of BSF, Chief Secretaries of Union Territories and several senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Union Territories and BSF were also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that the BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance. 

With this app, the jawans can get personal information and information related to accommodation, Ayushmann-CAPF and leaves on their mobiles. Be it GPF, Bio Data or grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS) or information on various welfare schemes, now Jawans can get all this information through the app and this app will also connect them with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Along with this, he congratulated the BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar and his entire team for the awaited revision and update in 13 manuals which will increase the understanding of operations, administration and training and speed up the work. 

The Home Minister said that the Border Security Force guards the most difficult border of the country. After Atal ji conceptualized ‘One Border One Force’, the responsibility of our borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh has come under the responsibility of BSF and the brave soldiers of BSF are manning these borders with great vigilance, strength and promptness as well as consistent efforts. He said that the security of the borders of the country cannot be ensured by pillars or fencing, but only by the bravery, patriotism and alertness of the soldiers standing on that border. 

HM Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently started the Vibrant Village programme. He urged all the Border Security Forces that through the Vibrant Village program, they should make efforts towards increasing tourism in the village, making the village self-sufficient with complete facilities. Shri Shah said that the security of the border can be ensured only when the border villages are populated. Along with the deployment of Jawans on the borders, only the patriotic citizens living in the village can provide permanent security and all the border guarding forces should strengthen it.

The Border Security Force has a long history and has been honored with numerous gallantry awards including one Mahavir Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras, 13 Vir Chakras and 13 Shaurya chakras. BSF has fought so many battles with such valour that a book could be written on each war. 

Shah noted that in the last three years, 26,000 kg of narcotics and 2,500 arms & ammunition were seized through BSF. He said that although the anti-drone technology on the border is still at the experimental stage, it has been successful to a great extent. Within the last 6 months BSF has shot down 22 drones on the western border, which is a huge achievement. Success is also being achieved against the drones carrying weapons to spread narcotics and terrorism with nefarious intentions. 

The Union Home Minister said that a “BSF Drone/UAV and Cyber Forensic Lab” has been set up in Noida, through which captured drones have been thoroughly mapped for their linkages and locations across the border.
Shah added that fencing could not be done at some places on the border due to difficult topography. BSF has developed in-house technology for electronic surveillance there, the cost of which is very low and its efficiency is very high.  

Shah said that BSF personnel have been able to secure the border with continuous vigilance. Construction of 140 km of fencing and about 400 km of roads has been completed in difficult places. Along with this, more than 120 border out-posts have been constructed.

He added that a new app has been created for housing and within 2 months of its launch, the housing satisfaction ratio has increased by 10%, which is a huge achievement. He said that this is also a great example of proactive governance.

Nine Integrated check posts have been developed and 14 more are in the process of being built. The Home Minister told all the senior officers of BSF that it is necessary that in the border districts all the welfare programs run by the Government of India and State Governments be 100% implemented with the help of the District Collector. He said that if we equip those people, who are leaving the border villages, with the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Yojana, then they get a reason to stay in the village. Along with this, if they are provided with the facilities of gas, electricity and drinking water, then they will also feel that someone is taking care of them and they should stay here, added Shah.