The paramilitary forces, which come under the home ministry, including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB and Assam Rifles, too are at the forefront of defending about 15,000 kilometres of the country’s borders, braving unfavourable conditions.
They are assigned to ensure internal security, fight secessionists, terrorists and Maoists, and to protect VIPs.
During natural calamities, they are the ones who come first for rescue operations.
When law and order is under threat, they are sent to restore it. But these forces, who work hard in every nook and cranny of the country without rest, are treated cruelly by the country.
In all wars after the country got independence, paramilitary forces have fought shoulder to shoulder with soldiers and given their life. After the war with Pakistan in 1971, paramilitary forces have been at the vanguard of defending the border and ensuring internal security. Since the Army cannot be deployed at the border because of international law, it stands as a reserve force 5-30 kilometres away from it.
In the past 50 years, more than 5,000 paramilitary personnel have been killed on duty. More than 22,000 personnel have been severely injured in clashes and accidents. They were discharged without pension.
It should be noted that their duty and punishment are similar to that of the military. But, their pension and retirement benefits are as per Central Civil Services Rules, applicable to central government employees.
Though they are considered as armed forces with the approval of Parliament, the approximately 11 lakh personnel and about 9 lakh retirees and their dependents are not given due benefits.
Paramilitary forces’ services are equal to that of the Army. Hence, their retirees too should be given one rank, one pension.
Petitions have been given many times to the Union government by the All India Central Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association.
Though talks were held with the ministers of state, the home minister and the PM, it was not implemented.
Though the central government has now ordered one rank, one pension for the armed forces, paramilitary forces were ignored. About 4 lakh paramilitary personnel who retired before March 31, 2003, are eligible to one rank, one pension.
They are given only 40 per cent pension.
Only about 10 per cent of soldiers in the armed forces have to retire prematurely. The central government, which made a law to give them full pension, other retirement benefits and facilities for re-employment, shows partiality to paramilitary forces.
In the past four years, 36,000 personnel retired voluntarily with minimum pension after completing 20 years of service. They are deliberately denied full pension, re-employment and other retirement benefits. Many protests were led by the association against it.
If one rank, one pension and other benefits are not given within three months, it has been decided to blockade the paramilitary headquarters in Delhi in the first week on March by roping in retired paramilitary personnel and their family members.
Many times, IPS officers from state cadres who are about to retire are appointed as heads of paramilitary forces.
These officers, who remain in power only for a short period, do not know the difficulties that paramilitary forces face.
(The writer is the national general secretary of All India Central Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association)
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