CRPF to undertake first ever cadre review

In a major morale booster to CRPF personnel, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday gave its nod to the paramilitary force for cadre review of its 2.37 lakh personnel of group B and C from Constable to Inspector rank who were facing stagnation.

This is for the first time that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), since its inception on July 27, 1939, has undertaken this largest ever cadre restructuring.

While the total sanctioned posts in the rank of Subedar Major or Inspector (General Duty) have been revised upward by more than 91 per cent taking the total sanctioned posts to 6,271, the posts of Sub Inspector (General Duty) have been doubled to 17,403, the Home Ministry order said.

Similarly the number of posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector (Ground Duty) and Head Constable (General Duty) have been increased by margins of 34 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

Due to the cadre review, the waiting time for promotion to the next higher level for the CRPF personnel in the ranks of Constable to Inspector will get reduced by three to five years, it said.

This restructuring exercise would lead to faster career growth for the CRPF personnel in the ranks of Constable (General Duty) upto the rank of Inspector (General Duty) and would also mean better remuneration as well as more responsibilities on their shoulders, improving their motivational level and increasing their job satisfaction.

This anti-stagnation drive would motivate these personnel to be fitter – a vital criteria for the CRPF personnel since promotions in the force are tied to "SHAPE", a fitness yardstick to measure their eligibility for promotion.

"This would provide opportunity for junior leadership, improving operational efficacy with a younger age profile," the order said.

The strength of a force relies heavily on the morale of its personnel, keeping this in view, the CRPF a leading force mandated for internal security of the country said it has undertaken the cadre review for the General Duty personnel "for the first time in its history."

"This would bring cheers to about 2.37 lakh personnel of Group B and C from Constable to Inspector who were facing stagnation. A proposal by CRPF to this effect has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 17, 2019 (Tuesday)."

Apart from ensuring the aforesaid benefits to its cadres, the move would also compensate for the stagnation that had arisen because of the recent decision of the government to raise the retirement age for personnel upto the rank of Commandant from 57 years to 60 years, leading to no promotions as no personnel would have retired in the next three years, the order said.

"This will be a great morale booster for this elite force which is at the forefront in meeting all national internal security challenges."

The Home Ministry's decision comes taking cognisance of CRPF's role in different combat operations since its inception.

The CRPF had played a major role in Hot Springs (Ladakh) when 10 of its brave soldiers sacrificed their lives facing the Chinese troops on October 21, 1959, and the occasion is now observed as "Police Commemoration Day".

Besides, two CRPF companies repulsed an attack by a full brigade of the Pakistan Army at Sardar Post, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat on April 9, 1965, now observed as "Valour Day".

The force played a major role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, earning 22 gallantry medals.

In Punjab and Tripura, the force proved its patriotic fervour by effectively dealing with terrorism and insurgency.

The CRPF along with other security force personnel foiled a terror attack on Parliament December 13, 2001 for which the force was decorated with one Ashok Chakra posthumously and four Shaurya Chakras.

The CRPF has been in Sri Lanka in 1987 as part of Indian Peace Keeping Force, and visited Haiti in 1995, Kosovo in 2000 and Liberia in 2007 under the UN Peace Keeping Mission.

The CRPF is the leading counter-insurgency force and the largest amongst Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) with 246 battalions which includes five Signal battalions, six Mahila battalions, 15 Rapid Action Force battalions, 10 CoBRA battalions, Special Duty Group, Parliament Duty Group and four VIP Security battalions.

The multifarious roles of CRPF also include ensuring security during elections and maintaining law and order in Jammu and Kashmir and Maoist-affected states.

Presently, the CRPF is deployed in three major theatres of internal conflict - Jammu and Kashmir, Maoist-affected areas and the North-East.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@.in)

( With inputs from IANS )