Haryana will provide jobs to the kin of Martyrs on Compassionate Grounds

The Haryana Government has decided to grant compassionate assistance through appointment on compassionate grounds in Class III and IV posts to one eligible living spouse or dependent children of martyr of armed forces personnel or para military forces personnel, informed Chief Secretary, SC Choudhary.

A martyr means “a person serving in Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) or in para-military forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force etc.) under the Home Ministry on permanent basis and is killed in action in border skirmishes, terrorist attacks or riots and is declared a martyr by Ministry of Defence, Government of India and Ministry of Home Affairs, respectively”.

The eligible family member means dependent son or daughter or wife who is not earning and is fully dependent upon the martyr.

The appointment shall be confined to feeder posts in group C and D category. Such appointments shall be made only on regular basis and against regular sanctioned post. Also, they shall be exempt from the observance of the recruitment through Recruiting Agencies notified by the State.

There shall be no relaxation of any provision of these instructions. However, as a special case, these instructions shall be relaxed only in the cases of children who have become orphan upon the demise of the martyr. The claim of appointment of such orphans shall remain alive till one child of the deceased has attained majority/minimum eligible age for entry into Government service.

These instructions will be come into force with effect from January 1, 2014.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/haryana-to-provide-jobs-to-kin-of-martyrs-on-compassionate-grounds.html

Don’t let tainted MPs enter House: Plea in court

A city court has ordered issuance of notices to the Delhi Police commissioner, Central government and heads of paramilitary forces after a Delhi resident sought a restrain order on elected MPs with criminal backgrounds from entering Parliament.

The petition, by Satyavir Singh, calls for restraining “the defendants from providing security to criminal MPs, who have been elected in the Lok Sabha elections held in April-May 2014…”

The petition further prays that “MPs who have criminal cases against them should not be allowed/permitted to enter Parliament, otherwise strict action be taken against the defendants as per law…” The notices were issued by Additional Civil Judge Prakash Sharma.

Among the paramilitary forces whose chiefs have been issued notices are the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The next date of hearing has been fixed on July 25. The petition, filed on Saturday, cited media reports alleging that some of the MPs elected to Parliament have criminal pasts.

“As per the Constitution of India, no corrupt person or a person having a criminal case is entitled to contest the election… In that situation (if an MP with a criminal past is elected), how can fair rule and administration be expected from the criminal because he will misuse his power by sitting in Parliament. Not only this, the defendants will provide them security for their protection even when they are already criminals and not entitled for the same,” the petition states.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dont-let-tainted-mps-enter-house-plea-in-court/

Court notice on CRPF bodybuilders' plea

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday issued notice to the central government and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on a plea filed by the bodybuilding team of the paramilitary force against the decision to disband them.

Justice Reva Khetrapal and Justice Pratibha Rani sought response from the home ministry and the CRPF and posted the matter for Sep 23.

On May 16, the CRPF disbanded its bodybuilding team saying that the sport did not come under 'All India Sport' category.

The aggrieved bodybuilders, many of whom are reigning and former national and international medal holders, moved the high court for direction to allow them to participate in various bodybuilding competitions as part of the CRPF team.

The players have contended that they were selected in the CRPF under the sport quota, which meant they were only to participate in bodybuilding championships, the plea said.

The CRPF notification disbanded its body building and rugby team and dispatched all the players of the two sports to their respective units to perform normal duties.

The players, however, contended that it was factually incorrect as bodybuilding was duly recognized by the sports ministry, the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association.

Source: https://in.news.yahoo.com/court-notice-crpf-bodybuilders-plea-160803204.html

UPA II reluctant to fill security posts lying vacant for months

 Officials in the Home Ministry worked frantically to ensure that a judge was appointed to probe Snoopgate in the last days of the UPA regime but there was no such urgency shown to fill important security posts lying vacant for months.

Top positions in the security establishment are vacant with no efforts being made to find suitable replacements.

Vacuum

The position of Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, held by a Director General IPS officer, has been vacant for the past eight months since the retirement of S. Jayaraman in September 2013. The officer heads the ministry's internal security wing and reports directly to the home secretary.

Even the position of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat, appointed by the Prime Minister, was not filled after Yashovardhan Azad was appointed Information Commissioner in November 2013.

Several other vacant positions in paramilitary forces are also held by senior IPS officers.

The ministry has also put on hold the empanelment of 1981 and 1984 batches of the IPS as Special Directors General and Additional Directors General at the Centre.

"With senior positions remaining vacant, officers are given additional charge, which means more work and pressure. It also leads to hectic lobbying for vacant positions," said a senior officer.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal border and carries out other internal security duties, is without a chief. Its chief Arun Chaudhary retired on April 31. Central Industrial Security Force DG Arvind Ranjan has been given its additional charge. Earlier Ranjan held additional charge of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) when he was heading the National Security Guard.

No special DGs

The CISF, responsible for securing airports and industrial units, was also without a regular DG for nearly three months when Ranjan was appointed in December 2013.

The largest paramilitary force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) serving in Maoist areas, northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, is without three Special DGs, who are responsible for heading three field formations in the northeast, Kashmir and Central zones.

The government has done away with the post of Additional DG in the ITBP for the time being. Sources said this is a crucial post as the Additional DG directly coordinates with IGs and supervises operations. The post was given to National Disaster Response Force chief Mahboob Alam who was previously serving as additional DG in ITBP. Alam also held the charge of DG for some time as the government did not appoint a full-time DG. The BSF is also without two Special DGs and one Additional DG.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/home-ministry-upa-ii-sashastra-seema-bal-cisf-crpf-itbp/1/361692.html

CRPF to get bulletproof helmets in Shinde's final move as Home Minister

Paramilitary forces will finally have adequate bulletproof helmets as the Home Ministry, which was sitting on the proposal, has acted at last.

Before demitting office, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has given his nod to expedite the purchase.

The ministry has given its sanction to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to purchase 47,000 bulletproof helmets through a tender.

Mail Today was the first to report that the CRPF has only 800 such helmets, against the sanctioned 50,000 for a force of 2.9 lakh. The CRPF has the highest presence in Maoist-hit states, with nearly 85,000-90,000 personnel serving in the Red Zone.

Despite bullet injuries on the head being one of the most common causes of death, red tape in the ministry ensured that jawans go into combat zones without even the most basic requirements like bulletproof helmets.

"Earlier, it was decided that the ministry will purchase them and then hand it over to the forces," said a senior officer. The ministry instead sat over the proposal.

"Now we have been permitted to go for a tender and buy them on our own. It's good we don't have to depend on the ministry for something as basic as this," said the officer.

While the standard operating procedures in the Army clearly state that every soldier in insurgency-hit areas must have a bulletproof helmet, these rules did not apply to paramilitary forces due to bureaucratic lethargy.

Sources said the CRPF has been made the nodal agency for carrying out a tender and purchase helmets for all other paramilitary forces.

Bulletproof helmets are also needed by BSF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles for their troops serving in combat zones.

The Ministry woke up from its slumber to fast-track the process for acquiring helmets in March after an attack in Chhattisgarh killed 15 security personnel, including 11 from the CRPF.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2628575/CRPF-bulletproof-helmets-Shindes-final-Home-Minister.html#ixzz31kP6GxEa 

SOP lapses at Dumka, cops under scanner

The Maoist strike on an election party claiming eight lives in Dumka shattered a brief lull in Jharkhand which otherwise witnessed a relatively peaceful three-phase polling, besides raising serious questions over the deployment of paramilitary forces and the state police’s claim of self-sufficiency.

Primary analysis has revealed there were serious lapses in observing the Standard Operating Procedure for which Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police could be held responsible. However, concerned officials were in a bind over taking action against the two as both DC Harsh Mangalam and SP Nirmal Kumar Mishra are considered close to Chief Minister and local MLA Hemant Soren.

The polling officials and Jharkhand police personnel were part of a team that was returning in a mini bus to the district headquarters after polling in the Shikaripara assembly segment. The vehicle hit a Maoist-planted IED on the Sarsajor-Palasi road and was damaged. Poll officials were advised to take buses in a Maoist-affected area and walk back with EVMs to the district headquarters.

Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said, “We had ensured peaceful elections by keeping strictly to the SOP. We will have to examine what went wrong here.”

Lambodhar Mahato, the sector magistrate travelling in the Tata Magic, allegedly took it to booths 100 and 101, located at primary school in Jamkandar and upgraded middle school in Asma.

But, who gave orders to him? “At the moment, it would be wrong to point fingers at the DC as there is nothing that suggests that he gave the orders,” said Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer P K Jajoria, adding that two sets of EVMs were damaged in the blasts and that there would be a re-poll.

A police source, however, said, “The DC is new, he does not understand the risks. In order to complete the polls early, he allowed the bus to go in.”

While CRPF personnel posted at booth 100 walked, the police personnel boarded the bus. As a result, no CRPF personnel was killed the attack.

Four personnel from the Dumka district police and one from the Garhwa police were killed, while five policemen were wounded. A State Bank of India staffer, a Dairy Development Board employee and the cleaner of the mini bus also died in the attack. At least three civilians, including the driver, sustained injuries.

The incident picks holes in the state’s police claim that it was ready for a central forces-free existence and that only a slack in recruitment was keeping the CRPF here.

There are also questions being raised about force deployment — whether too many CRPF personnel were posted in the urban areas, while poorly-trained district police personnel had to man some high-risk booths.

“The CRPF was in majority in Maoist areas too. But despite us telling them repeatedly to be careful, our police officers simply do not listen,” said the Dumka SP.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sop-lapses-at-dumka-cops-under-scanner/2/

Punjab Flayed Over Property Tax For Paramilitary Forces Personnel

The retired officers of the paramilitary forces on Friday have condemned the decision of the Punjab Government and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for not extending the benefit of exemption of property tax to personnel of the forces.

The decision was taken in the annual general body meeting of the Paramilitary Forces Retired Officers’ Association on Friday at BSF Officers’ Mess, Mohali. More than 60 officers from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ambala, Patiala and other neighbouring districts attended the meeting. Amarjit Singh Sidhu (IGP, CRPF Retd), president of the association said, members of the association condemned the decision of Punjab Government and UT Municipal Corporation and Administration for not extending the benefit of exemption of property tax to the personnel of PMFs residing in Punjab and Chandigarh. He said this had happened despite Government of India, Ministry of Home orders to all States and UT’s that keeping in view the sacrifices of the personnel of paramilitary forces, at par with Defence forces, all States and UTs should give all benefits to PMFs personnel, serving or retired, at par with the benefits given to Defence personnel.

He said, more personnel of paramilitary forces were sacrificing their lives in the maintenance of security on the borders dealing with the insurgents, terrorists and Maoists all over the country. BSF is guarding the borders of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, J&K, Tripura and borders with Bangladesh. ITBP is guarding the borders with Tibet, SSB is guarding the borders with Nepal, Assam Rifles is guarding the borders of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, CRPF is dealing with the internal security, maintenance of law and order, fighting the insurgent in J&K, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura, and Naxals in 11 States of the country. CISF is looking the security of all the airports, important Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and other industrial units. Coastal Guards are guarding the entire coastal borders in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. All personnel of PMFs irrespective of the rank should also be given benefit of One Rank One Pension at par with the Defence personnel, the association demanded.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/punjab-flayed-over-property-tax-for-defence-personnel.html

Consolidation of paramilitary forces makes sense

One of the immediate fallouts of the September 7 explosion at the Delhi High Court was a change in guard. A decision was taken to replace the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), which was guarding the premises until the blast, with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), thus adding yet again to the plethora of responsibilities assigned to this force. This is also an example of the country’s policy on the bourgeoning population of paramilitary forces, who have been pushed from one area of responsibility to the other, without much thought.

The narrative on the paramilitary forces (now called the Central Armed Police Forces, CAPFs) is indeed one of rapid numerical growth as well as of enormously expanded responsibilities. The CAPFs, with a strength of 780,000 personnel, now resemble a second army for the country. And this number is projected to grow, probably to overcome the Indian Army numbering about 1.1 million, in few years. The CAPF organisations will remain the largest government employers for many years to come.

While such astounding growth is a necessity for the country in some measure, what is baffling is the blurring of the functional distinctiveness among the forces. Traditional responsibilities of these forces organised under seven different names range from acting as border guarding forces to protecting law and order by fighting rioters, insurgents and terrorists. While none of these original duties have lost their relevance, today to distinguish the forces on the basis of their responsibilities is indeed a difficult task.

Post-Kargil war, the CRPF was recommended to be the primary counter-insurgency (COIN) force. However, almost after a decade of such recommendation, it continues to be the Chalte Raho Pyare Force (translating into Carry on Marching Force), a loose reference to its assumption of mind-boggling array of duties. The same fate has befallen on the rest of the CAPFs as well. The Border Security Force (BSF), whose role is “security of India’s border and matters connected therewith”, operates on election duties, riot control in states that are far removed from the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, supposed to be guarding the Indo-Tibetan border, are deployed to protect Indian mission in Afghanistan that gives the personnel about five times their normal salary. Post-1998 Mumbai attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel are available for deployment to protect private installations, in return for a payment. This is in addition to their deployments for VIP security, disaster management and also as a Formed Police Unit of the UN at Haiti. Personnel of the National Security Guards, an elite counter-terrorism commando force, are also deployed in VIP protection. The list goes on.

The internal security challenges and the perennial demand for forces for routine law and order duties has led the home ministry to gloss over the specific duties for which these forces were raised. The 80 battalions of Central forces deployed in the Naxal theatres include the BSF, the ITBP, the CISF, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) apart from the CRPF.

Whereas such deployment can be justified on the ground of shortages of forces required to assist the state police forces, what remain inexcusable are the political decisions to misuse even the CAPFs, passing out after advanced COIN training. And both the Central and state governments have been guilty of this. Earlier this year, New Delhi deployed the personnel of the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), a 10-battalion-strong force within the CRPF raised specifically for carrying out anti-Naxal duties, in poll-bound and Congress-ruled Assam. Almost in the same vein, a large number of CRPF personnel, after being trained by counter-insurgency and jungle warfare schools, are deployed for VIP protection duties, constituting a complete waste of their talent and training.

As the home ministry’s decades-long modernisation programme for the CAPFs focuses on augmenting the capacity of the forces, won’t it be a better idea to simply merge the CAPF organisations under one head? Why maintain seven different organisations if the CAPFs, irrespective of the colour of their badges, are to carry out similar duties? If need be, there can be only two different divisions among the CAPFs—one, for COIN duties, and the other for the rest. It will take care of the competition for resources among the different CAPF organisations; address the problem of coordination among them; allow better rotation of forces between stressful and not so stressful duties; and consolidate seven modernisation plans into one. If we accept that the Indian Army is doing well under just one supreme command, why not bring the CAPFs under a similar arrangement?

By Bibhu Prasad Routray in www.claws.in

The writer, currently Visiting Research Fellow at RSIS, Singapore, served as a Deputy Director in the National Security Council Secretariat

Discrimination against Gallantry Awardees of Paramilitary Force Personnel

PARAMILITARY FORCE RETIRED OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (REGD.) 

CHANDIGARH 

 (3089 of 2000) 

P.S. Bedi 

DIG (Retd) BSF 

Chairman 

2186, Sector 35-C, 

Chandigarh -160022 

Ph: (0172) – 2615048 

Email: psbedi03@yahoo.co.in Website:www.pmfretiredofficers.com 

S.C. Sharma 

IG P(Retd) CRPF 

President 

Flat- F-23,Galaxy Apprts, HBH, Sector 

43, GURGAON-122003 

Mob: 9878579488, 08447060604 

Email: scsharma1948@gmail.com 

Harbhajan Singh 

DIG (Retd) CRPF 

General Secretary 

A-302, Rishi Apartments, 

Zirakpur – 140 603 

Mob: 9878375611 

Email:hb_singh1947@hotmail.com 

No. PMFROA/2011/007 28 August,, 2011

To

Sardar Parkash Singh Badal,
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab,
Chandigarh.

Sub: Discrimination against Gallantry Awardees of Paramilitary Force Personnel
Hon'ble Sir,

 Punjab has always been known to honour the gallant soldiers without any discrimination.
In consonance with this tradition, the Govt of Punjab has been extending monetary grants,
annuities and other concession to the awardees of Gallantry Medals. (Govt of Punjab, Dept of
Defence Services Welfare O M No 2/53/2004-IDW/1134-38 dated 02-05-2005 refers). Under
this Notification, the Gallantry Awardees have been granted monthly Annuity and other
concessions as per the Gallantry Awards conferred on the Defence Services Personnel. The
list, however, is restricted to the Awards of Defence Services series only like PVC,A C, MVC etc
and the awardees of Police Gallantry Medals have been ignored.

2. The various types of awards conferred on Indian Citizens, have been notified in the Govt
of India Gazette Notification ( President’s Secretariat ) No 104-Pres/95 dated 11 Nov,1998 in
the ‘order of precedence’. A perusal of this notification indicates that in addition to defence
gallantry awards, PVC, A C, and MVC etc the Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry and Police
medal for Gallantry also find mention. It is seen that in the order of Precedence, the ‘Presidents
Police Medal for Gallantry’ is rated above ‘Yudh Sena Medal’ and ‘Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena
Medals’, and ‘Police Medal for Gallantry’ is below these gallantry medals, but above ‘Mention in
Despatches’.

3. Most of the recipients of Police series of Gallantry medals belong to Paramilitary Forces
(BSF, CRPF, ITBP and other CPOs). These gallant personnel had earned these medals at
great risk to their life with some attaining martyrdom also in fighting not only against some local
criminal elements, but had also faced the enemy bullets in Indo-Pak Wars, Chinese Intrusions,
and had been actively involved in dealing with insurgents / terrorists in Punjab, Kashmir and
North-east. Their actions are in no way inferior to the Defence Services Personnel.
  2
4. Considering the valor shown by the gallantry awardees of Police series of Medals, the
Central Govt has extended monetary allowances to the recipients of Presidents Police Medal for
Gallantry and Police Medal for Gallantry. The Chart at Annexure ‘A’ indicates the list of
Gallantry Awards in the order of Precedence showing the Monetary Allowances by the Central
Govt and the matching allowances and other concessions extended by the Govt of Punjab. A
comparison indicates that, where-as Central Govt has extended monetary grants to all
awardees of gallantry medals irrespective of their affiliation with various Security Forces, the
Govt of Punjab has restricted these only to Defence Service Personnel. The discrimination
shown towards the recipients of these Police Gallantry Medals seems highly implausible on the
part of a state which takes pride in the valor shown by its sons of the soil. This discrimination
affects the morale of the Punjab inhabitants adversely who feel that in their own state they are
considered as second rate citizens and their achievements are out rightly ignored. This, not only
amounts to humiliation, but leads to frustration.

5. The affected awardees of Police medals for Gallantry had raised this point earlier also,
but no action was taken, on the grounds that the local Sainik Boards do not recognize these
gallantry awards, through which the Punjab Govt is disbursing the various annuity and
concessions. The Paramilitary Forces come under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Home Affairs
and not Ministry of Defence and hence these gallantry awardees are not covered by the Sainik
Boards. None-the-less, this contention does not hold good to deny them the recognition which
they deserve as Punjabis.

6. It is therefore reiterated that case for suitable matching ‘Monthly Annuity’ and other
concessions may be considered for Gallantry Awardees of Paramilitary Force Personnel,
serving, retired, and the widows of the deceased on similar lines as are being extended to
Defence Services personnel. The disbursement of the annuity may be considered through the
nearest Paramilitary Establishments located in Punjab / Chandigarh or any other channel/Dept.

 With regards,


 Yours sincerely,

 (P S BEDI) DIG (Retd) BSF
 CHAIRMAN

PARAMILITARY CHIEFS SEEK TO BREAK MHA BONDS

With “weak” leadership at the helm of affairs, the Director Generals of paramilitary forces, all from the Indian Police Service, have sought to unshackle themselves from the Union Home Ministry.

In a sign of a brewing revolt, the DGs complained that the mechanism of reviewing the functioning of paramilitary forces by the Home Secretary was “not working properly” and decided to seek a meeting with him to discuss new and pending issues. Technically, the Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA) is not only the administrative Ministry of the paramilitary forces but also the cadre- controlling authority for IPS officers.

According to the minutes of a recently-held meeting of the DGs of the forces at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Directorate here, the paramilitary bosses have objected to the standard operating procedure (SOP) of MHA that stipulates attachment of personnel by the Ministry. Arguing for a review of the SOP, the DGs agreed that they “should not be routinely asked by the MHA to submit the number of personnel attached etc, as the DGs and the Supreme Commander of the Force are well aware of the requirement of the Force.” According to Constitutional provisions, the President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Union.

“The responsibility of equipping the force within the sanctioned budget should be that of the DG and “no unnecessary approvals, like in case of modernisation plan, may be taken from the MHA. The DG should have total powers to utilise the allocated budget without extraneous requirement of approvals and sanctions,” says one of the agenda points discussed at the meeting and agreed by top paramilitary brass.

The meeting was chaired by ITBP DG Subhash Goswami and attended by the chief of Sashastra Seema Bal Arun Chaudhary and Arvind Ranjan who once headed the elite National Security Guards and is the chief of the Central Industrial Security Force now.  

The DGs also contended that the modernisation plan of the paramilitary forces was “not taking off the way it should, for want of finalisation of qualitative requirements by the MHA and lack of understanding of the requirements of the Force.” The chiefs have sought appointment of an IPS officer (as against the present IAS official) as Joint Secretary (Police Modernisation) in the Union Home Ministry.

The paramilitary bosses have also resolved to raise the issue of postings and transfers of specialist doctors with post-graduate qualifications at the Composite Hospitals by the Union Home Ministry. The DG of ITBP has already sent a DO letter to the Union Home Secretary seeking review of the Ministry’s order (dated December 7, 2011) claiming posting and transfer of specialist doctors by the MHA “would lead to depriving personnel in far flung areas of specialist treatment, dilution of command and unnecessary strengthening of Composite Hospitals at locations where superior medical assistance is already available.” The Ministry subsequently turned down the request.

The forces are now collecting information relating to mobility/organisation, personnel, provisioning/police modernisation/medical, Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB), welfare and morale of the troops for collation before taking these issues up with the Union Home Secretary. The IPS officials at the top, however, did not deliberate on pressing concerns of the paramilitary forces, including significant attrition of the officers and men on account of premature retirement due to spiraling number of cases relating to voluntary retirement and resignations, a senior paramilitary official said.

The cadre officials are also enraged over the proposal for creation of the post of Joint Secretary (Police Modernisation) to be headed by an IPS officer and not an Inspector-General rank officer. Serving cadre officers of three paramilitary forces have already petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking grant of “organized service” status and non-functional financial upgradation, lack of which is considered to be the key reasons for wastage of trained personnel.

A senior paramilitary official who did not wish to be identified said it is high time the aggrandizing aspirations of IPS officials were suitably curtailed and appointment of cadre officials as DGs should be made at least on a rotational basis. At present, only IPS officials on deputation are entitled to become DG.

Paramilitary insiders said the Ministry is sitting over files of crucial proposals for over two years including the arming policy of the Forces. The Ministry, sources said, returns files of the paramilitary forces on “flimsy” grounds and approvals are not granted to proposals for years together.

Source:http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/paramilitary-chiefs-seek-to-break-mha-bonds.html

PARAMILITARY FORCES REAL ROLE MODELS

The circumstances in which security personnel work and protect the lives of people, actually they are the real role models; we are not,” said Gautam Gambhir, skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders. The KKR players were in the CRPF 65th battalion camp, Tulsi Baradera, Mandir Hasaud, located on the outskirts of Raipur. They spent about one and a half hours with the jawans Tuesday afternoon. Besides Gambhir, pacer Brett Lee, all rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, batsman Yusuf Pathan and Manvinder Bisla also visited the camp.

The players also interacted with CRPF men. Gambhir described them as real heroes and said that the hard work the CRPF men were doing leaving their families behind is impossible for any one of us to do. Replying  a question of paramilitary personnel about inspiration and people behind his success, Gambhir said, “I always wanted to do something for my country whether it is through sports or the way you people are doing. My family members also supported me much but I did not have any role model.”

 To another query that how would he face his Delhi friend Virendra Sehwag when they would meet on Wednesday, Gambhir said  there is no one friend in the field as both of us is playing for two opposite sides and we both have to win.

Gambhir was of view that better cricket infrastructure should be created in small cities also to groom cricketing talents. He said that an international standard cricket stadium will definitely bring Raipur to global level.

Earlier CRPF IG (Ops- Chhattisgarh) Zulfiquar Hasan said that there are few similarities between cricketers and CRPF men.

Cricketers, play one-day and five-day test matches and fight to win the matches for the nation, in the similar fashion jawans conduct one day, two-day, three-day, five days operations to protect the nation. In the fag end of the visit, the players also inspected the weapons of CRPF and got themselves acquainted with their usage. Latest weapon like X-95, UBGL, LMG, Autofall, SLR, Carbine, AK-47, Rifle Grenade and 51 mm Mortar grabbed the attention of cricket stars.

At the outset, DIG (Administration) Pradeep Chandra, DIG (Provisioning) D Bhattacharya, DIG CRPF Raipur Range Retired Brigadeir Arun Bali,  DIG Bilaspur Range V K Chouhan Commandant 65th Bn SK Singh, Commandant (Intelligence) R K Singh, Commandant 62 Bn Rajiv Kumar Singh and other senior personnel were also present.

PARAMILITARY OFFICERS APPROACH DELHI HC FOR PAY RELIEF

Serving and retired officers of key paramilitary forces like the CRPF and BSF have approached the Delhi High Court to seek directions for grant of non-functional financial up-gradation.

While the Department of Personnel and Training has issued notification providing for grant of non-functional pay up-gradation, the Government is yet to accord the benefit to Group A officers of the paramilitary force.

The Central Reserve Police Force, the world's biggest paramilitary force, has approximately 4,000 officers out of which about 3,500 are in Pay Band 3 and for these officers only 782 posts are available in Pay Band 4. Given the limited number of posts in PB 4, promotions to higher posts for cadre officers have become rare.

Induction of cadre officers was done in an unscientific manner over the years without any due regard for the career prospects of the officers and in violation of the instructions of the Union Public Service Commission or the DoPT that are responsible for the management of Group A cadre.

While the CRPF Rules framed in 1955 specifically provide for conditions of service, cadre regulations for inclusion of officers in General Central Service Group A (earlier class I), the officers have not been granted an organised service status.

Way back in 1993, the DoPT had in its third edition of its monograph included CRPF officers as part of the Central Group A Service. The DoPT had subsequently published the monograph in 2004, 2005 and 2008 classifying the CRPF Group A executive cadre as a regularly constituted service.

Former CRPF IG VPS Pawar said the Government wants to keep the group A cadre unorganized for the time to come as it has not been accorded 'organised service' status leading to unscientific management of cadre.

"The non-declaration of Group A executive cadre as an organised service formally has resulted into unplanned (over and under) recruitment, stagnation at various levels, particularly in the rank of Deputy Inspectors General and Inspectors General, uncertain career progression and stressful service conditions due to non-availability of appropriate deputation, probation, training and leave reserves and ultimately compromising operational efficiency," Pawar said.

Interestingly, medical officers of the CRPF and other paramilitary forces who only form an ancillary service to aid and support the personnel in the department have been granted the benefits of Dynamic Assured Career Progression.

According to the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, the grade pay decides the status of an officer and denial of non-functional financial up-gradation is highly discriminatory. The DoPT through an office memorandum issued on April 24, 2009 accorded non-functional pay up-gradation and was consequential to the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and depriving these benefits to the officers cannot be justified, said Pawar who along with other officers, has moved a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking non-functional up-gradation to officers.

Besides, Pawar's petition, two separate petitions for similar relief have been filed by serving officers of CRPF, two by BSF officers and one by ITBP officials.

Jai Jawan Pension Loan for Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force, CAPFs etc

A new product “Jai Jawan Pension Loan” has been launched for financing Young Defence Pensioners of Defence and Paramilitary Forces who   retire at very young age, sometimes even in the range of 30 to 35 years. As these young pensioners do not have any means of livelihood other than pension, they find it difficult to meet their emergent financial needs or to spend on setting up small ventures to supplement their income.

Name of the scheme	Jai Jawan Pension Loan
Purpose	To meet personal expenses of young Defence pensioners.
Eligibility	Pensioners of Armed Forces, including Army, Navy and Air Force, Paramilitary Forces, Coast Guards, Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, BSF,ITBP etc.
Age	Upto 50 years.
Loan amount	48 times of net monthly pension. Subject to maximum of Rs.2.00 lakh subject to EMI/NMI not exceeding 40% of net monthly pension.
Margin	NIL
Guarantee	Third Party Guarantee of Spouse eligible for family pension. In the absence of spouse TPG of any other family member or a third party worth the loan amount.
Repayment	Maximum 84 months, payable one month after disbursal of loan from the pension through SI, to debit the pension account for recovery of monthly instalments.
Type of loan	Clean Demand Loan
Processing fee	Same as for Prasanthi Loan
Disbursement	By credit to SB account/Current account of the pensioner.
Additional document required	An undertaking to recover monthly instalments from pension credited to account.
Rate of interest	13.00% (BPLR)
Authorized Branches	All pension disbursing branches.

Source: http://www.statebankoftravancore.com/new/jaijawan.htm

BSNL launches Special Tariff Plans for Paramilitary Jawans

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited ( BSNL ), India's largest integrated telecom service

provider has launched Special Tariff Plans for Paramilitary Forces serving the nation.

With these special tariff plans, BSNL endeavours to benefit over 9 lakh Paramilitary

jawans. The two plans launched are the Paramilitary Plan and the Officer Plan for the

jawans & officers respectively.

With daily free talk time for 20 minutes on any two BSNL numbers, jawans can

talk with their own family, anywhere in country under the Paramilitary Plan. The facility

is also free of cost while on roaming. Other than that the Paramilitary Plan offers

Reduced Calling charges @ 0.20 P/ min on any two BSNL numbers; be it mobile or

landline. Another plan in the offing is Reduced Calling charges @ 0.30 P/ min on any one

BSNL number to talk with a relative, anywhere in the country. The Paramilitary Plan is

available both on 2G and 3G along with reduced video calling charges @ 0.70 P/ min.

 Apart from this, an economical plan has been launched with Fixed Monthly

Charges of Rs.99 (Tax Inclusive), where one can enjoy Per Second Pulse and tariff

beyond freebies @ 1 Paisa / Sec. Out of Rs.99 of Fixed Monthly Charges, apart from

facilities mentioned above, the jawans can also avail additional talk time worth Rs.75/-

per month. For control on expenditure, BSNL has also launched a prepaid plan,

whereby jawans can recharge their mobiles using by vouchers.

 Under the Officers Plan, serving officers can avail unlimited free calls to any BSNL

numbers within a circle and 500 free SMS, both local & national. Besides this, they can

avail 1500 minutes / month free STD calls on any BSNL numbers. This also includes 300

minutes of free I/C roaming call and 200 minutes of free O/G roaming call. The other

features of the plan include per minute pulse, free night calling on one's own network,

unlimited free GPRS in Home LSA, STD calls @ 0.40 P / min, video calls @ 0.70 P / min.

All this comes at a fixed monthly charge of Rs.425 + Taxes. 

Note:-

 The credential of the Paramilitary force personnel is to be verified before activating

the plan by taking a photocopy of his Identity Card issued by his office duly attested

by his controlling officer. A self-certificate indicating that no other connection is

active in his name under this special paramilitary plan anywhere in India is also to

be taken.

 The above special plan is to be activated in BSNL, CSC only.

 Paramilitary force personnel using BSNL connection and Port-in customers will be

 allowed to activate the special plan by using the FRC of the plan. On migration to the

 new plan, the unutilized balance in the customer’s account will be carried forward. 

However, validity of the previous plan will not be carried forward.

 Rs.5 per number per occasion will be recovered for change in 5 F&F numbers.

Paramilitary Plan

•Talk with own family, anywhere in country.

•Daily Free talk for 20 min.

•Any two BSNL Numbers.

•Free Usage could be used by on one number

or both numbers combined.

•Free usage is available while roaming also.

•BSNL Numbers – Landline / Mobile.

Paramilitary Plan

•Talk locally to few numbers.

•Reduced Calling charges @ 0.20 Paise / min.

•Any two BSNL Numbers.

• BSNL Numbers – Landline / Mobile.

Paramilitary Plan

•Reduced Calling charges @ 0.30 Paise / min.

•Any one BSNL Numbers.

• BSNL Number – Landline / Mobile.

•Talk with other relative, anywhere in country.

Paramilitary Plan

•Enjoy the benefits of technology.

•Plan available both on 2 G / 3 G.

•Reduced Video Calling charges @ 0.70 Paise / min.

Paramilitary Plan

•Economical Plan

•Per Second Pulse.

•Tariff beyond freebies – 1 P / Sec.

•Monthly Charges – Rs 99/- (Tax Inclusive)

Paramilitary Plan

•Control on Expenditure

•Pre – Paid Plan.

•Recharge by vouchers.

Paramilitary Plan

•BSNL – Corporate Social Responsibility.

Out of Rs 99/- Monthly charges, apart from

facilities mentioned above

Additional talk time

worth Rs 75/- per month.

Paramilitary Plan

Plan is likely to benefit 9 Lakh

Paramilitary jawans serving the nation.

Migration of Existing Number Allowed

Plan for Officers

Officers Plan

•Unlimited Free Calls to any BSNL numbers

within Circle.

•1500 minuets / month STD Calls free on any

BSNL Numbers. Includes 300 min Free I/C

roaming call and 200 min Free O/G roaming

call.

•BSNL Number – Landline / Mobile.

•500 Free SMS – Local / National.

•Per Minute Pulse.

Officers Plan

•Unlimited Free GPRS in Home LSA

•Free Night Calling on own Network.

•STD Calls – 0.40 P / min.

•Video Calls – 0.70 P / min.

•Post Paid Plan

•Fixed Monthly Charges – Rs 425/- + Taxes.

Source: http://itbpolice.nic.in/itbpwebsite/Documents/Special%20Tariff%20Plans%20for%20ParamilitaryJawans1.pdf

MHA TO HIRE OVER 100 TRAINS FOR FERRYING FORCES

New Delhi: The Home Ministry will use the services of more than 100 trains to transport paramilitary forces for deployment during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In this mammoth exercise, the trains will be used for the speedy movement of forces from one state to another according to election schedule and security considerations. Nearly, two lakh central paramilitary personnel, in addition to state police forces, are expected to be deployed.

Just 800 helmets for 85,000 jawans

How red tape is endangering the lives of CRPF men fighting the Maoist insurgency

The Maoist insurgency boiling out of India's tribal heartland has been called the greatest threat to the nation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

But that's about it, as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel leading the drive to counter the Maoist rebels remain handicapped by a severe shortage of basic life-saving gear like bulletproof helmets. 

The CRPF, the main force responsible for tackling the Maoist insurgency, has only 800 such helmets against the sanctioned 50,000, highly placed sources told Mail Today.

The March 3 attack at Sukma in Chhattisgarh, in which 15 security personnel, including 11 from the CRPF, were gunned down, is a chilling reminder of this criminal neglect: sources said most of the deaths were caused by bullet injuries to the head. 

Officials who have served on the ground said head injuries are one of the most common causes of death. "It's the head which is exposed when a soldier takes his position and tries to fire at the enemy in combat," said one officer.

The Sukma bloodbath has finally roused the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from its slumber. The ministry has decided to fast-track the acquisition of bulletproof helmets for the CRPF. 

"In the wake of the recent attack and keeping in mind the threat perception ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the matter has been expedited and soon the required number of bulletproof helmets will be provided to the CRPF," said an MHA official. 

Sources said that after the recent attack in Chhattisgarh, the CRPF reiterated its concerns to Home Secretary Anil Goswami. The force was assured that the bulletproof helmets would be provided "soon".

While the standard operating procedures of the Army clearly state that every soldier in insurgency- hit areas will be provided with a bulletproof helmet, the rules are different for jawans fighting the biggest insurgency in the country. In fact, sources said CRPF personnel fighting Maoists deep inside jungles are more vulnerable as compared to their counterparts taking on militants in Jammu and Kashmir or insurgents in the North-east. 

A plan to push the rebels to the backfoot ahead of the elections seems to have failed with Maoists killing over 20 security personnel in the past three weeks in Chhattisgarh. Six personnel were killed in an attack in Dantewada district on February 28. MHA officials concede that "red tape and bureaucratic lethargy" are responsible but can't help pinning part of the blame on paramilitary forces. 

"They often send a list of big demands and it is realised later that the equipment sought is not being put to use. As a flip side to this, some genuine and most basic requirements are ignored," said an official. The CRPF, with a strength of nearly 2.9 lakh, has the greatest presence in states affected by Maoist violence, with 85,000 to 90,000 personnel serving in the red zone alone. 

Statistics also show that personnel are more vulnerable in Maoist zones than anywhere else in the country. The number of security personnel killed between 2011 and 2013 was 371 in states hit by Maoist violence.

The total number of incidents of violence in the red zone was 4,311. High intensity conflict hit zones like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur seem safer than Maoist bastions in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh or Orissa, where the majority of killings of security personnel killings have occurred. 

The total death toll in all insurgency-hit areas during 2011-13 has been 239 and the number of incidents of violence stood at 3,123. The sources said besides bulletproof helmets, other basic requirements like jungle boots have not been provided for the past three years. There are also other problems like a financial crunch faced by paramilitary forces like the CRPF. As part of the police modernisation plan, the CRPF was allocated Rs918 crore for 2012-13 and 2013-14 but got only Rs20 crore. 

To make matters worse, states affected by Naxalite violence owe a whopping `7,163 crore to CRPF, which accounts for 60 per cent of the total amount of Rs11,930 crore that states have to pay to the force for internal security duties.

This is more than the total amount of Rs10,932 crore sanctioned for seven paramilitary forces under the police modernisation plan for a period of five years from 2012 to 2017, but the government has been reluctant to release the money.

Voluntary retirement and resignation by officers and personnel of Central Armed Police Force

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HOME AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2694

ANSWERED ON-19.02.2014

Increase in resignation by officers of Para Military forces

2694 . SHRIMATI KUSUM RAI, ARVIND KUMAR SINGH, PRABHAT JHA

(a) whether there has been a 30 per cent increase in resignations by officers of Para- Military forces such as CRPF, BSF, CISF and ITBP in 2013 in comparison to 2012;

(b) if so, the Para-Military force-wise details thereof and the reasons for the same;

(c) whether around 8500 jawans have also left Para-Military forces during 2013, excluding SSB and Assam Rifles;

(d) if so, the force-wise details thereof; and

(e) the details of steps Government would take to check high rate of attrition among officers and jawans of Para-Military forces?

ANSWER

(a) & (b): No, Sir. The details regarding the number of officers of CRPF, BSF, ITBP and CISF who have resigned during the year 2012 and 2013 are as under :-

Force	No. of officers resigned in 2012	No. of officers resigned in 2013
CRPF	50	54
BSF	26	23
ITBP	01	07
CISF	05	05
Total	82	89

The percentage increase in the number of officers of CRPF, BSF, ITBP & CISF who have resigned in the year 2013 in comparison to the year 2012 is 8.53% only. Further, the officers who have resigned in the year 2013 is only 0.67% of the sanctioned strength of the officers in the aforesaid 4 Forces. These officers resigned mainly due to various personal and domestic reasons including children/family issues, health/illness of self or family, social/family obligations and commitments etc. 

(c) & (d): As per inputs, the details regarding the number of jawans of CRPF, BSF, ITBP and CISF who proceeded on voluntary retirement or resigned from the service in the year 2013 are as under :-

Force	No. of jawans who resigned	No. of jawans who took voluntary retirement	Total
CRPF	613	3495	4108
BSF	502	3475	3977
ITBP	121	282	403
CISF	676	930	1606
Total	1912	8182	10094

The attrition of jawans of CRPF, BSF, ITBP & CISF on account of voluntary retirement and resignation from the service during 2013 is 1.34% only of the total sanctioned strength of the Jawans in these 4 Forces, which cannot be considered to be high.

(e): To further improve the working conditions, including health facilities, for the Force personnel, the Government has taken/implemented various measures like:-

(i) Implementing a transparent, rational and fair leave policy;

(ii) Liberal grant of leave to the force personnel to attend to their urgent domestic problems/issues/needs; 

(iii) Regular interaction, both formal and informal, among Commanders, officers and troops to find out and address their problems;

(iv) Revamping of grievances’ redressal machinery;

(v) Regulating duty hours to ensure adequate rest and relief; 

(vi) Improving living conditions through provision of basic amenities/ facilities for troops and their families;

(vii) Motivating the forces through increased risk, hardship and other allowances;

(viii) Provision of STD telephone facilities to the troops to facilitate being in touch with their family members and to reduce tension in the remote locations;

(ix) Better medical facilities for troops and their families including introduction of Composite Hospitals with specialized facilities;

(x) Organising talks by doctors and other specialists to address their personal and psychological concerns; 

(xi) Yoga and meditation classes for better stress management;

(xii) Recreational and sports facilities and provision of team games and sports etc;

(xiii) Providing welfare measures like Central Police canteen facility to the troops and their families, scholarships to their wards, etc;

(xiv) Giving status of ex-CAPF personnel to the retired personnel of CAPF, which is expected to boost the morale of the existing CAPFs personnel and also expected to provide better identity, community recognition and thus higher esteem and pride in the society to the Ex-CAPF personnel.

(xv) The air courier service facility has been extended to CAPF personnel deployed in remote areas of North East and Jammu & Kashmir region including Leh as a welfare measure.

******

STARRED QUESTION NO-374

ANSWERED ON-19.02.2014

Voluntary retirement and resignation by officers and personnel of CRPF

374 . DR. CHANDAN MITRA

(a) whether it is a fact that about 16,665 officers and personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have availed voluntary retirement or resigned from service during the last four years;

(b) if so, the reasons for such a large scale exodus of personnel from CRPF;

(c) whether there is any transparent grievance redressal mechanism and specific promotional avenues in CRPF, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken by Government to grant CRPF the status of organized service and provide for professional career management including related benefits like non-functional upgradation?

ANSWER

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*374 FOR 19.02.2014.

(a): As reported by the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF), the details of officers and personnel of CRPF who have proceeded on voluntary retirement or resigned from service during the last 4 years are as under:-

Year (1)	CRPF officers/personnel who proceeded on Voluntary retirement (2)	CRPF officers/personnel who Resigned (3)	Total (4)=(2)+(3)
2010	2801	822	3623
2011	2379	971	3350
2012	4854	830	5684
2013	3519	667	4186
Total	13553	3290	16843

(b): The total number of CRPF officers/personnel who proceeded on voluntary retirement or resigned from service during the last four years are only 16843, which is about 1.41% of the existing total Force strength per year. It may also be seen that the number of officers/personnel of CRPF who have taken voluntary retirement or resigned from the service declined during the year 2013 as compared to 2012. The CRPF officers/personnel proceeded on voluntary retirement or resigned mainly due to their personal and domestic reasons, including children/family issues, health/illness of self or family, social/family obligations and other commitments etc. Some personnel sought voluntary retirement to enjoy a static life by availing pensionary benefits after completing 20 years of regular service.

(c): To address the personal as well as official problems and grievances of the Force personnel, the CRPF already have a proper grievance redressal mechanism in place at all levels viz Unit/ Battalion, Group Centre, Range, Sector & Directorate level.

On receipt of the grievance from the serving/retired personnel or from their spouse or from NOKs of the deceased personnel regarding maintenance of family, non receipt of pension/family pension, and other terminal dues etc., the same is forwarded to all concerned offices i.e. Sector, Range, Group Centre and unit with the instructions to settle their grievances within 30 days. The applicant is also apprised with the factual position/ status with reference to his/her grievance within the stipulated time.

Further, the Force Headquarters also take care of the personal grievances of the officials regarding their promotions/transfers and other related service matters through personal audiences, representations/ petitions etc.

Promotional avenues are available in the Force for the personnel at different levels as per the Recruitment Rules for the respective ranks. The cases of eligible personnel are placed before the Departmental Promotion Committees. Some time, even those personnel are also considered for promotion who fall short of the eligibility conditions of residency etc. by granting them relaxation in the residency period and other eligibility conditions to fill up the vacancies. Further, the Govt. has also extended fast track promotion from the post of Inspector to Assistant Commandant through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination-Assistant Commandant. Time bound financial upgradation of Senior Time Scale is granted to Assistant Commandants after completion of 4 years of service and to Medical officers up to IG(Medical) rank under Dynamic Assured Career Progression Scheme. All service benefits/promotional avenues and Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme are extended to the Force personnel as per the existing norms.

(d): CRPF does not fall under the Organized Group-A Service (OGAS) category as it does not fulfill the requisite criteria/conditions of the OGAS prescribed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Also, it is a conscious decision of the Government not to grant them status of Organised Group A Service due to command and control issues in the Force. The Force personnel are, instead, given benefits of MACP as per the recommendation of 6th Central Pay Commission. Further, other financial benefits in the form of a number of allowances are also given to the Force personnel as per their eligibility/entitlement/place of posting.

******

Source: Rajya Sabha Q&A