The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will set up 12 'holiday homes' at different scenic locations across the country for its jawans and their families as part of its unique welfare scheme for the personnel belonging to lower ranks. The locations identified for construction of retreat homes are Shimla, Almora, Joshimath, Madurai, Gangtok, Chittoor and Sarhan in Himachal Pradesh among others.
Director General of ITBP Krishna Chaudhary took this initiative for welfare of lower ranks. "It would be for the first time that any force has taken such an initiative," an official said.
"With a view to provide a chance to lower rank officials to spend their leave in tourist destinations with families, border guarding force ITBP has decided to provide Holiday Homes to their other rank officials," the official added. Chaudhary on Friday laid the foundation stone for the first such home in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.
The ITBP with 80,000 personnel strength is the designated paramilitary force for securing the 3,488-km-long Indo-China border that has treacherous terrain at icy heights of the Himalayas.
A total of 12 such locations have been chosen to build these retreat homes. The infrastructure will be created in the ITBP premises already available at these places. The facilities include separate bedrooms, kitchen and wash rooms for the other ranks personnel.
The retreats have been planned as officers and middle level officers in respective forces have their messes at stations for various official duties and for such purposes.
Four families of the jawans could stay at these holiday homes, and the unit commanders and field leaders will ensure that the personnel avail of these facilities during their leave period. The retreat homes are being created as part of the welfare scheme initiated by ITBP DG for its personnel, especially in the lower ranks. Those availing the facilities will have to pay basic government service charge.