Jalandhar:
Soldiers participating in the routine 'lowering of the flags' parade at the Attari Indo-Pak border in Amritsar have been provided with special shoes to help them perform the ceremony in comfort.
Jawans had earlier complained of facing severe back and knee problems while performing the aggressive parade during the border closing ceremony that takes place every evening before sunset.
Border Security Force Deputy Inspector General, M F Farooqui said "Soldiers taking part in the parade tap their feet hard in aggression causing severe knee and back problems to them. Earlier we had decided to lay a wooden path on the road but they are now being provided with more comfortable shoes."
The soldiers have been recently provided with these shoes and positive feedback has been received so far.
"The well cushioned shoes have specially been modified for these soldiers and they seem satisfied with it as no further complaints have been made by the soldiers," Mr Farooqui said.
When asked about the women soldiers Mr Farooqui said, women
have different sizes and they are working on it.
On the cost of such shoes Mr Farooqui said that the scheme is in its initial stage and the cost can only be calculated once it is successfully approved after feedback from the soldiers.
The routine ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides, and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations' flags. It is called the beating retreat border ceremony on the international level.
The spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from both sides of the border, as well as international tourists.