Cycle rally to educate border people

Gangtok, Nov 10 (UNI) The Sashatra Seema Bal(SSB) guarding the Indo-Nepal and Bhutan borders, is organising a 42-day long cycle rally beginning November 14.

The objective of the rally, christened 'Seema Maitri Evam Suraksha rally', is to educate the people living close to the border about infiltration, its repercussions and the role of the para military force, SSB Deputy Commandant Kamal Kant and Sub Area Manager P P Thakur told mediapersons here yesterday.

Spreading the message of integrity and unity, motivating the border population to be a part of the SSB, developing a rapport with the district administration and people and to sensitise them about the various welfare schemes launched by the force, the central and state governments are the other objectives of the rally, they said.

Mr Kant said the rally would be flagged off by the Commandant of the 63 Mountain Division at Nathula on November 14 and culminate at Tanakpur in Uttaranchal on December 25.

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling will flag off the rally from Gangtok the next day.

At least 20 participants from the Guwahati and Patna frontier will participate in the rally that will cover 1600 km and pass through five states--Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

During the rally, the SSB would also organise medical camps, cultural shows, debates and exhibit films for the benefit of the people at various places.

The participants would halt for a day after every five days.

They would be taken to Nathula at least three days before the commencement of the rally for acclimatisation, they said.

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