When asked about the Maoist activities in tribal-dominated states, Prakash Mishra said now the focus states are Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, as Odisha has witnessed a massive decline in red menace in the last 18 months. “The recruitment of Naxals has gone down significantly due to combined efforts of security forces,” he said.
He stressed on the need for proper coordination between the states and CRPF. He also talked about the welfare schemes undertaken by CRPF in Chhattisgarh (including 3 hospitals in Sukma and 1 in Bijapur), which received public support.
Key Talking Points:
* During 2015, 101 Gallantry medals were awarded, which is the highest haul of Gallantry Medals in the history of CRPF. During this period, only 9 personnel were martyred, the lowest casualty in the last 30 years, whereas 94 adversaries were eliminated. Kill ratio in favour of CRPF has been highest since 1993 (highest in LWE area since 2000).
* An unprecedented 1740 IEDs were recovered by CRPF in LWE theatre since the formation of CPI Maoists in 2004 – 1,724 attacks.
* Peaceful conduct of assembly elections in Bihar.
* Major offensives were launched by CRPF in the core areas of Maoist dominance like Sukma, Bijapur, Tulsi Dongri, South Western Axis in Chhattisgah and Burha Pahar, Kumandih and Saranda Forests in Jharkhand.
* To augment the training capacity of CRPF, 3 new RTCs at Amethi (UP), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) & Latur (Maharashtra), 1 new CIAT School at Chittoor (AP) and 1 new CoBRA School of Jungle Warfare & Tactics at Belgaum (Karnataka) have been institutionalized.
* VIP Security Training School, Greater Noida (U.P.) was inaugurated in GC Greater Noida. A total of 692 SOs/ORs have successfully completed their pre-induction training in 06 batches & 43 GOs/SOs have completed their orientation training in 4 batches.
* At the International level, CRPF has won 26 Gold, 11 Silver and 5 Bronze medals while at the National level, it secured 13 Gold, 6 Silver and 24 Bronze medals. In All India Police Games, CRPF Sports personnel got 57 Gold, 72 Silver and 65 Bronze medals.
* Financial assistance (immediate relief) to the NOKs on death of CRPF personnel has been increased from Rupees 20,000 to Rs 50,000.
* Centre is granting an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to families of personnel, who are killed in action and a sum of Rs 10 lakh to personnel killed on active duty/in accident/due to cerebral malaria.
* The rate of Risk Fund amount to the work of NOKs of deceased personnel, on normal death, suicide and other deaths, has now been revised from the present Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh (Rs 7 lakh to NOK and Rs 5 lakh to parent) wef. 1/1/2016.