In a poignant display of humanity and community service, personnel from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) stepped forward to perform the final rites for an elderly woman in a remote Uttarakhand village. The incident, which unfolded in Jajurali village of Pithoragarh district, highlights a growing crisis in the Himalayan state: the migration of young men for employment, which leaves behind aging populations and voids in traditional social structures.
A Village Depleted by Migration
The heart of the matter lies in the demographic shift gripping many hill communities. In Jajurali village, a significant number of able-bodied young men have left their homes in search of better job opportunities in plains and cities. This exodus has created a stark shortage of people to perform essential community duties, including the solemn responsibility of carrying the bier during funeral processions—a task traditionally undertaken by male members of the community.
When an elderly woman from the village passed away recently, her family confronted this very dilemma. With her own sons and most of the village's youth working far away, there was a genuine concern about who would shoulder her mortal remains to the cremation ground. The family's grief was compounded by this practical and cultural challenge.
SSB Jawans Answer the Call of Duty
Upon learning of the family's predicament, jawans from the nearby 24th Battalion of the SSB, stationed at the Jhulaghat border outpost, did not hesitate. In a moving act that transcended their official security duties, a group of SSB personnel volunteered to assist. Dressed in their uniforms, they respectfully carried the bier of the deceased woman on their shoulders, walking through the village paths to ensure her last journey was conducted with dignity.
This was not a one-off gesture of goodwill. The SSB, a central armed police force tasked with guarding India's borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has a history of fostering strong bonds with the local populations in its areas of deployment. Their involvement often extends beyond border vigilance to community support, especially in remote, underserved regions like the villages of Pithoragarh.
The Larger Crisis of Hill Migration
The incident throws a harsh spotlight on the persistent issue of migration from Uttarakhand's hills. For decades, villages have been witnessing a steady outflow of their youth towards urban centers, plains, and other states for education and employment. This has led to:
- Aging populations left behind in villages.
- Agricultural land turning fallow due to a lack of labor.
- The breakdown of traditional community support systems that rely on collective participation.
- Increased hardship for the elderly, who often live alone without immediate family support.
The act of the SSB jawans, while deeply compassionate, underscores a systemic failure. It reveals how the social fabric of these communities is fraying to the point where even the sacred rituals of death require intervention from outside institutions.
Community Gratitude and a Symbolic Gesture
The village community expressed profound gratitude towards the SSB personnel. Their action provided not just practical help during a time of sorrow but also emotional solace to the bereaved family. It reinforced the image of the force as a protector in the broadest sense—guarding not just borders but also the welfare and customs of the people.
This event serves as a powerful symbol. It represents the intersection of official duty and humanitarian service. While the government has launched various schemes to curb migration and boost the rural economy in Uttarakhand, stories like this show that the ground reality remains challenging. The void left by migrating youth is often filled by the kindness of others, in this case, men in uniform.
The story from Jajurali is a mirror to the socio-economic realities of rural India, particularly in hill states. It is a tale of loss, but also of unexpected compassion. It highlights how migration for jobs is reshaping community life in fundamental ways, forcing a re-evaluation of who constitutes 'family' and 'community' in times of need. The SSB jawans, with their shoulders bearing not just a bier but the collective weight of a village's absence, have written a memorable chapter in civil-military relations.
