I am delighted to be with you today in this colourful, solemn and inspiring ceremony. It gives me great pleasure to participate in the 66th Anniversary Celebration of CRPF Raising Day. When I talking to you, I realize that you represent two hundred and fifty thousand personnel belonging to all ranks of the CRPF working in different parts of the country. My greetings to Director General, Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, other ranks and all the families of the CRPF on this occasion.

During the last six decades, CRPF has been carrying out many operations in our borders, internal security operations and providing assistance to civil authorities as visualized by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of independent India. Recognizing the acts of courage and bravery, demonstrated by CRPF, 700 Gallantry and 1600 meritorious service medals have been awarded to CRPF personnel. My congratulations to all the award winners.

Achievements of CRPF

When I study the important achievements of CRPF, I find that this Force has been responsible for thwarting the efforts of militants and safeguarding vital installations in the country wherever there have been problems over the last six decades. Recently, CRPF has made significant contribution to help the victims in the two major disasters faced by the country namely, the Tsunami in 2004 and the recent earthquake in J & K. You were the first to reach the remotest villages and have provided the essential food and shelter to the victims. You have also adopted a village named "Kamalkote" where all the facilities are being provided to the villagers. I appreciate the innovative efforts of the CRPF. Let this societal mission of CRPF multiply. This will become a role model for many institutions to follow.

Rightly, the CRPF has been earmarked for counter insurgency operations in the country due to its dynamic, adaptable and dependable characteristics. I am happy to know that CRPF has participated in various international assignments as part of UN Programme and their services have been recognized by the international community. I also notice that the CRPF has raised full fledged 'Mahila Battalions' which will definitely be useful while dealing with law and order situations relating to women and children. Womankind known for its innate humanness, sympathy and compassion is best suited to tackle all problems including crime particularly in the present day world where there is so much emphasis on reformative approaches rather than retributive ones.

CRPF: Model for our youth

Presently, I find, day by day instability is on the rise in the society. The prosperity of the nation even if it is achieved by the year 2020 does not ensure the safety and security of the people if we are not able to inculcate discipline among our youth. When I see the CRPF personnel with their disciplined life and love for the nation, I am certain, people of our nation lead disciplined life. Another disciplined force which the country has comes from NCC cadets and the scouts and guides are trained by Non-Governmental organizations. I would recommend that NCC cadets and scouts and guides can be enlisted by CRPF, while undertaking disaster management and rehabilitation operations in different places in the country. This is not only increase the resource of CRPF, but also provides hands-on training for our youth on managing the real-life problems.

Emergence of New Technologies

We should make all efforts to reduce the number of casualties occurring in each operation. The advent of new technologies has provided a new dimension of surveillance and dealing with adversaries especially during internal security operations. Advanced sensors have become crucial for surveillance and to fore-warn many situations. The provision of state-of-the-art communication systems including secured mobile systems, night vision devices, information technology solutions, micro-gadgets, intelligence networking with security and precision weapons, can provide better solutions for critical operations and provide forced multiplication. Such intelligence systems will help CRPF to plan and execute difficult and complex missions with precision and low casualty rate. With use of these technologies, I am sure, you will come out with flying colours in all your future operations.

Open source intelligence

One of the major revolutions of information has been the advent of the World Wide Web. It contains a vast amount of information about people, corporate and nations. In the earlier days the intelligence information used to be gathered by field officers, working directly near the source of information. But today an intelligent mining of the data coming out in many newspapers, websites and so on, can give you ample information about possible groups, their intentions and their Connectivities. A regular monitoring of the internet, could give you indicators of pre-formation activities of terrorists groups and their origins and their supporters.

Simulated Operations

Many times our forces may not have actual operational experiences. However, in today's technological world, operational simulation, both in hardware simulation and digital simulation, is possible. I am sure, CRPF has all the capability to simulate internal security operations so that personnel are trained and maintained in peak of efficiency at all times.

Special Task for CRPF Personnel

I would like to suggest a special task for CRPF team. As you are aware certain armed insurgency groups are prevalent in many parts of the country. We have to find a win-win solution for bringing the insurgency groups back to the main stream development activity of the nation. I would recommend CRPF teams can study the insurgency groups problem in partnership with social scientists and draw an integrated reformation and rehabilitation plan for a particular region. The CRPF team can also mobilize the support of local population in this venture. The plan should include counselling, correction, education, healthcare, employment and participation in societal missions. If CRPF succeeds in this mission in one area, it can definitely be replicated in many parts of the country.

Conclusion

You are in an important mission, when the nation sleeps during night, you are all awake all the time, awake to make us secure so that we can work for the development of the nation. I can assure you that you are in the minds of billion people; we cherish your valour, your commitment and your devotion. With your cheerfulness you communicate tremendous hope to the nation. The way you conduct yourself with discipline, smartness and toughness; definitely you are a terror to our adversaries. You are the fountain of encouragement to all our youth to stay together and to make sacrifice to build a developed India.

I congratulate you on your remarkable turnout, bearing and steadfastness on the front. Once again, let me greet all of you on the 66th anniversary and wish you success in all your missions.

May God Bless You.

Oath for CRPF

1. I am proud of being the member of the CRPF.

2. I will work with utmost commitment and dedication for the protection of our nation.

3. I will be a helpful citizen and at times of need I will always help my countrymen.

4. I will celebrate the success of my country and my countrymen.

5. My flag is my life.

Oath for CRPF(Hindi Version)

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