PM Modi to meet paramilitary DGs to chalk out strategy plans

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to hold a 'one-to-one' meeting with the chiefs of paramilitary forces later this month in an effort to chalk out important strategy plans for operational efficiency and welfare of these units which are about eight lakh strong.  

Officials said the meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in the third week of July in the Prime Minister's Office with only Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in attendance.  

An order issued by the Union Home Ministry, accessed by PTI, has asked these central armed police forces CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and NSG to prepare their respective "talking points" for the proposed meeting and submit them to it which will be sent to the PMO.

"The PMO has told the Home Ministry that the Prime Minister has desired to hold a one-to-one meeting with the Directors General of these forces.

"Preparations are in full swing in this regard," sources said.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Prakash Mishra, the senior-most Chief, has been nominated by the Home Ministry to coordinate on the subject with all the forces, the order said.

The sources said while the exact agenda of the meeting is yet to be known, it has been indicated that the PM would be discussing with the Directors General (DGs) of these forces some major issues related to their requirements for overall operational efficacy and measures that can be ushered to make these services attractive for young aspirants.

They added that the forces have been asked to specifically prepare a report on the grievances being faced by junior and middle rank personnel which can be addressed through long term steps and will go a long way in boosting the morale of these troops deployed for rendering a variety of internal security tasks in the country like border guarding, anti-Naxal operations and assisting state governments in maintaining law and order.

"The meeting is expected to be held in the PMO itself in the presence of the Home Minister and NSA.Not many Home Ministry officials will be a part of the deliberations.

"However, final plans are being worked out," a senior official privy to the development said.

The sources said issues related to timely promotions and delays in getting proper allowances by the jawans and officers of these forces are also expected to figure during the meeting which will have some specific speaking time reserved for each DG.

The forces, it is understood, have also been asked to prepare a report on the status of future recruitments and raising of additional battalions.

The six paramilitary forces function under the command of the Home Ministry with CRPF being the largest with about three lakh men and women. The elite commando force National Security Guard (NSG) is the smallest with about 12,000 personnel in its ranks.