New Delhi: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday asked border-guarding force ITBP to widen the scope of its wives’ welfare association for the greater well-being of its personnel even as she assured financial aid from government to facilitate efforts in that direction.
Inaugurating a three-day ‘mela’ organised by the force here, the Women and Child Development Minister said that Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) should initiate special projects for production of quality eatables and other items by the women relatives and other family members of the troops.
Gandhi said the force could do many more things for the welfare of their personnel and their families and efforts should be made to impart new skills which will ensure better earnings for them as compared to the mostly low-paying jobs for which they are trained. She said that even as paramilitary personnel and officials guard the nation’s borders away from their families, there are huge opportunities for their women relatives to explore avenues for economic growth.
The ‘mela’ has been organised by the ITBP wives’ welfare association and will continue till November 8 at Sector-12 RK Puram in south Delhi. It features various goods and artifacts from various parts of the country. ITBP is tasked with guarding the 3,488-km-long Sino-Indian border among others. (PTI)
