EMPHASIS Engagement with Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB)

EMPHASIS is working for cross border migrants at source, transit and destination sites. A partner NGO-Bharatya Gramin Sewa Vikas Sansthan (BGSVS) is implementing interventions at Indo-Nepal transit points at Uttrakhand (Banbasa) and Uttar Pradesh (Gaurifanta). In order to build capacity of stakeholders for creating an enabling environment at transit areas sensitization of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), transporters and hoteliers on issues related to HIV and safe mobility of Nepali Migrant Population (NMP) are carried out.

Sashastra Seema Bal or SSB (Meaning: Armed Border Force) is one of India's Central Armed Police Forces, who were assigned the duties of manning the Nepal and Bhutan borders. SSB is a Border Guarding Force (BGF) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. SSB endeavoured to present a benign face of the government among border populace in the far flung and inaccessible areas subscribing to the ETHOS of Service, Security and Brotherhood. The local populace always found SSB standing steadfastly with them during difficult times. SSB was declared as a Border Guarding Force and Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) for Indo-Nepal border (January, 2001) and assigned the task of guarding the 1751 km long Indo-Nepal border along the states of Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh , Bihar , West Bengal and Sikkim . SSB is the first border guarding force which has decided to recruit women battalions.

Need for engagement
EMPHASIS felt the need for engaging with SSB for two reasons. Sensitization of the SSB on HIV&AIDS would make them realise the importance of the issue and create an enabling environment for the Nepalese population to receive information and services on the border. Further, awareness about the vulnerabilities of the Nepalese migrants would bring more understanding about the need for enhanced security and dignity of the migrants.

Process of engagement
The engagement of EMPHASIS with SSB started in February 2011, when first sensitization meeting was conducted at Banbasa border, while at Gaurifanta border first sensitization meeting was conducted in June 2011.

In order to conduct sensitization meeting with SSB, the team has to take permission for date and time suitable to SSB personnel. At initial stage the EMPHASIS staffs met the Assistant Commandant along with the detail of the project and the activity to be conducted. A series of meetings took place to convince them about the importance of the activity. After the Assistant Commandant is convinced, he took the EMPHASIS team to the Commandant for finalization of date and time. Sometimes 2-3 visits were made for getting date for 3 hrs of sensitization program. The Commandant understood the issues related to HIV and safe mobility and agreed for sensitisation of the SSB personnel.

So far 6 sensitization meetings with SSB personnel have been conducted at Gaurifanta and 3 meetings have been conducted at Banbasa. As the trainings are organized inside the SSB campus, apart from some stationary material such as note pads and pens, nothing was allowed to be taken inside, not even refreshment materials.

The group of participants varies in each meeting. For example at Gaurifanta (Paliya) separate trainings for male and female SSB personnel were done but in case of Banbasa it was a mixed group of male and female SSB personnel. The attendance of the participants vary from 30-40 including the key officials in each training.

The group of participants varies in each meeting. For example at Gaurifanta (Paliya) separate trainings for male and female SSB personnel were done but in case of Banbasa it was a mixed group of male and female SSB personnel. The attendance of the participants vary from 30-40 including the key officials in each training.

The sensitization meeting starts with the introductory presentation of the project, followed by discussion on HIV and safe mobility of NMPs. Audio visuals related to migration and condom demonstration is shown to the group. Separate slots are given for questions and answers and doubts were clarified.

Major outcomes of the sensitization of SSB

• One of the key issues discussed with the SSB is in relation to sexual and non-sexual harassment of women on the border. Secondly, there was no mechanism for redressal of grievances on the border.

This led to the formation of an Anti harassment committee at the border (Gaurifanta) by the SSB in April 2012. EMPHASIS was invited to be part of this committee through it's local implementing partner BGSVS. One DIC counsellor (working for EMPHASIS) is part of committee. In this committee, there are members from SSB and police department. The NGO representative is the only member from the social sector. A number of sensitised female SSB personnel volunteered to be part of anti-harassment committee operating at the Gaurifanta border.

Purpose of the Committee:-
o To prevent sexual harassment at border areas.
o Immediate response on case informed.
o To provide legal support to harassed women

• There is a lot of coordination between EMPHASIS and the SSB in the border areas inspite of the fact that top officials of SSB usually have a very short tenure at one location. Some of the activities that are jointly coordinated on the Nepal border are:

o As a part of the SSB commitment towards the local population, they teach/interact with local government schools in the border area. In these sessions, they invite EMPHASIS staff to support them, especially to talk about HIV & AIDS and safe mobility issues.

o Whenever SSB comes across any emergency case or cases where the migrant feels helpless, they inform EMPHASIS staff for further interaction.

o SSB commandants have found the program very helpful and have verbally communicated for similar programs at other areas of the border, currently not covered.

o Going forward, SSB is planning to establish community radio stations to make the local and cross border community aware about the social security, development, health, etc. SSB at the local level is keen on getting the support of EMPHASIS in case this materialises.