Lessons of sobriety for border sentinels

Enforcing a prohibition of supply of alcohol to the Border Observation Posts (BOPs) with immediate effect, the Assam and Meghalaya Frontier (A&M Ftr) of the BSF has simultaneously sought the help of the Alcoholics Anonymous Service Centre for counseling of its personnel who have seriously hit the bottle.

“BOPs are operational sectors and we cannot have drunken personnel manning these sensitive forward posts along the international borders,” Inspector General P K Mishra said, adding liquor would be provided only during ‘Barakhanas’ and when the men go on leave.

Inaugurating the two-day counseling session at the BSF headquaters here today, Mishra made a passionate plea to the rank and file of his men to come out of the ‘disease’ that is alcoholism, which has infected the troopers.

Observing that earlier alcoholism was deemed as a ‘disciplinary problem’, which was sought to be curbed by exemplary punishment, the IG said such tactics did not yield the desired result.

“From now on no vindictive punishment will be meted out. We shall identify the reasons behind jawans taking to excessive drinking and then go for regular counseling by experts,” he said.

Alcoholism is not only having adverse effects on the family members of the jawans but it’s also ruining their physical and mental health, the IG observed.

“Moderate drinking in itself is not bad but consuming more than required and then creating trouble is a problem that needs to be tackled,” he said.

Citing family feuds and loneliness while on duty at remote border posts as the main reasons for the prevalence of alcoholism among some of the jawans, the IG advised his men to take to games and sports instead.

“Instead of wasting money on alcohol, you can use it for making regular phone calls to your wives and children,” the IG advised officers and jawans who would undergo counselling.