8% posts vacant in paramilitary forces

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 6

Over 8 per cent of posts in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that function under the Ministry of Home Affairs to guard international borders or assist state governments in maintaining law and order are lying vacant.

The total sanctioned strength of the six CAPFs is 9,99,795, of which 84,037 posts are lying vacant, according to information released officially this month.

Among the border-guarding forces, the worst hit is the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), with a shortfall of over 18 per cent. The SSB, with an authorised strength of 99,221, is responsible for policing the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders.

The Border Security Force (BSF), tasked with peace-time management of the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, is short of 8.1 per cent while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) that guards the border with China is short of 7.4 per cent. Their sanctioned strength is 263,905 and 89,438.

The Assam Rifles, having a dual role of internal security duties in the north-east as well as manning the border with Myanmar, has a sanctioned strength of 66,408, but at present is short by 6.6 per cent.

As far as non-border guarding forces are concerned, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has 22,980 posts lying vacant against its authorised strength of 3,24,810, while the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has 10,415 posts vacant against its authorised strength of 1,56,013.

The Home Ministry estimates about 10 per cent posts in different grades falling vacant every year due to retirements, resignations, deaths or creation of new posts or raising fresh units.