Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

The Standing Committee on Home led by Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma in its report has insisted on paying “paramilitary service pay” to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on a par with defence forces personnel and objected to overuse of the forces for internal security and election duty.

In the report, the panel said, “…overuse of CAPFs for the rigorous internal security and election duties to the extent that even the reserved battalions are deployed for such duties against the norm of providing for rest and recuperation.” It has also reiterated its recommendations in this regard rejecting the government’s explanation.

An official release stated: “The report of the 15-Member Committee chaired by Anand Sharma on the action taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Committee’s recommendations in respect of functioning of Border Guarding Forces viz., Assam Rifles, Shasastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force, contained in the 214th Report of the Committee was presented to Rajya Sabha on last Wednesday.”

Noting that the defence forces personnel are being “paid military service pay” in view of the risk to life and social and family isolation, the panel argued that the CAPFs “also deserve similar incentive” in “the form of paramilitary service pay” as they also face similar risks and isolation while working in hard areas. The MHA, in its response to the panel, said, the 7th Pay Commission and the Committee on Allowance did not agree to such special pay to CAPF.