The Central paramilitary forces have witnessed a decrease in recruitment of SC/ST members in its ranks due to non-availability of eligible candidates in these categories.
"The major reason for the non-filling of reserved vacancies is due to non-availability of eligible candidates in the respective categories/Groups," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Giving details of the vacancies and recruitment of SC/ST candidates in the paramilitary forces during the last three years, the ministry indicated about 35 to 45 per cent of the posts could not be filled during the period for want of suitable candidates in these categories.
Against a total vacancy of 8,741 posts in the SC category in 2013 only 62 per cent of the posts (5,440 posts) could be filled. likewise, in 2012, 9,460 posts were filled against a vacancy of 14,524 slots and only 11,613 candidates from the category finally joined the forces against the vacancy of 19,658 posts.
In the ST category, 3,370 slots out of 5,426 posts were filled in 2013, 7,046 candidates were recruited against a vacancy of 10,429 in 2012 and 6,409 posts filled against a vacancy of 11,401 in 2011. Similar situation prevailed in the recruitment of SC/ST candidates in the Assam Rifles.