Former cops of Paramilitary on a par with ex-servicemen

Recognising the sacrifices of central police forces, the government on Thursday decided to designate retired personnel as "ex-central police personnel" on a par with ex-servicemen of the armed forces. Aloke Tikku reports.

Recognising the sacrifices of central police forces, the government on Thursday decided to designate retired personnel as "ex-central police personnel" on a par with ex-servicemen of the armed forces.

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The change will enable retired central police personnel to seek benefits from state governments ranging from quotas in educational institutions for their children to allotment of land. It will, however, not entitle them to enhanced financial benefits from the Centre.

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced that the cabinet had cleared the proposal on Thursday. "These personnel will be called as ex-central police personnel on the same footing as ex-servicemen in the defence forces," Shinde said at an event of Central Industrial Security Force in Delhi.

The All-India Central Paramilitary Forces Ex-servicemen Welfare Association welcomed the decision, saying it would help them to persuade states to extend benefits on a par with ex-servicemen to their members. The association's secretary general PS Nair said states gave about 65-100 benefits to ex-servicemen.

But Nair said it wasn't enough for them to scrap their demonstration at CGO complex that houses headquarters of central police forces such as the CRPF and BSF.

"There are other demands too," he said, wondering why they were given limited benefits under rules for civilians but punished under harsh court martial proceedings.