In an alarming trend, nearly one battalion of the CRPF deployed in the Special Operation Zone(SOZ) of Chhattisgarh has been found to be of Low Medical Category (LMC).
A total of 22 battalions are deployed in the SOZ and as many as 894 personnel have been found to be LMC.
The CRPF treats SOZ, Chhattisgarh as a "high conflict zone" where every CRPF personnel is expected to maintain highest level of physical fitness and remain battle ready to be inducted into intense counter Naxal operations at a very short notice.
LMC cases not only hamper the operational performance of each company but also become burden on the commandants who are engaged in relentless counter Naxal operations, a recent order issued by the Force said.
"You are earnestly requested to recall all the LMC cases posted in the Administrative Units of your sector operating in SOZarea for the larger interest of the counter Naxal operations," CRPF Inspector General GHP Raju said in a letter circulated to all the formations of the Naxal-affected States.
Seeking to arrest the dwindling health profile of the Force in one of the worst Naxal-hit states, Raju also advised the formations to stop of disbursal of special Risk and Hardship Allowance to such LMC cases. Each CRPF personnel deployed in the Naxal-hit States up to the rank of Inspector is entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 17,300 and for officers the amount is to the tune of Rs 25,000 per month. The allowance was substantially enhanced by the Union Home Ministry on March 8 this year following the Pulwama hit by the Pakistani terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in which 40 paramilitary men were killed.
In his letter, the IG further said, "As you are aware , this is a special allowance extended to CRPF personnel who are giving their best in the most difficult and high risk operations.
The Commandant cannot detail LMC cases for Naxal operations. Hence, the LMC cases are not eligible to draw risk allowance. Allowing them to draw risk allowance amounts to extending undue favour to these (LMC) cases at the cost of the government exchequer, which must be stopped forthwith to avoid audit objections in future."
