There’s good news for the lonely jawan, standing guard on the icy Sino-Indian border or the hostile Indo-Bangla border. The Home Ministry has prepared a proposal to provide satellite linkage to border outposts on these two frontiers, making video conferencing and Internet facilities available.

According to plans chalked out by the ministry, VSATs would be installed along the two borders manned by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Border Security Force (BSF). Outposts, battalions and the headquarters in New Delhi will be linked through satellite connections.

An official at North Block said satellite links would improve border surveillance. And help stem the loneliness of the jawans.

However, there is a difference between the ITBP and the BSF projects.

The BSF plan envisages linking twelve outposts as one unit with a VSAT located at the midpoint. Bulk encryption devices will be deployed at strategic points to improve communication security. Also, more facilities like transfer of files and broadband radio are to be provided to the BSF.

“The BSF is gradually shifting from hierarchical to seamless communication”, reads a document released by the paramilitary outfit.

The ITBP project, estimated to cost Rs 41 crore, is at a more developed stage given the pressing demands and the hostile terrain of the Indo-China frontier.

The majority of ITBP personnel, unlike other paramilitary organisations, have to spend their career guarding the border at heights ranging from 9000 to 18000 feet above sea level.

Some of these outposts are even higher army bases. Moreover, the usual term of an ITBP posting is three years, unlike the army where personnel have to serve for only 3-6 months in such harsh conditions.

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