Of 186 BSF battalions, not one spared for rest

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

The world’s largest border-guarding force apparently has its hands so full of commitments that it cannot afford to spare its men for a bout of relaxing and de-stressing after serving in tough places.

In sharp deviation from government policy, not a single Border Security Force (BSF) battalion has been earmarked for rest and recuperation even as there are no counsellors or psychologists available at the unit level to deal with stress-related problems.

The BSF has 186 battalions and as per the policy, floated in 2001 after approval by a Group of Minister, there should be one reserve battalion for every three duty battalions.

Accordingly, around 46 battalions should be designated as reserve for the purpose of rest and recuperation. However, at present only 27 battalions have been designated as reserve, but even these are deployed on various non-border guarding internal security duties, according to available information.

These include 16 battalions deployed for anti-Naxal operations in central India and three battalions on counter-insurgency operations. Another six battalions are deployed on internal security duties or other security-related tasks while two are in the process of being raised. In recent years, BSF deployment along the border in Punjab and J&K has also been stepped up.

The BSF is responsible for the peace-time management of the international border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some of its units are also deployed on the Line of Control from Akhnoor to Kargil under the operational control of the Army.