From delicious cakes to exciting gifts, India's border guard authorities have planned the perfect spread to bring some cheer into the stressed, lonely lives of the jawans.
The stress and strain of spending numerous months away from home, braving extreme weather while guarding unfamiliar topography has often driven Border Security Force personnel to commit acts of violence.
In West Bengal -- which shares international border with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan -- at least four BSF men have committed suicide and another two were killed by colleagues. It's reported that all the deaths were caused due to 'stress and depression'.
A BSF official told rediff.com that the incidence of violence and suicide by paratroopers was a matter of concern, and so a decision had been made to float a 'cheer them up' project on an experimental basis.
For starters, 6,500 border guards who man the stretch along the Bangladesh frontier in West Bengal's Nadia district get a chance to celebrate their birthdays.
"Remaining vigilant for long hours is an extremely stressful job," said BSF Inspector General Ranjit Panchananda, who mooted the plan.
"The idea is to make them relax and feel at home," a senior BSF official said, adding that a roster of birthday boys would be drawn up and parties organised in respective battalions.
The money for these celebrations would come from a welfare fund for jawans.
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