Investigating agencies, paramilitary forces to lose cover from RTI

Investigating agencies, paramilitary forces to lose cover from RTI

permalink

---

As reported by Ritu Sarin at www.indianexpress.com on 2 Aug 2009

The Ministry of Personnel and Training (DoPT) last week initiated moves to bring investigating agencies, paramilitary forces and police departments under the ambit of the 2005 Right to Information Act ( RTI ).

Several organisations—that now figure in the list of 18 exempted from RTI disclosures in Schedule 2 of the RTI Act—have received an official intimation from the DoPT about their likely inclusion and have been asked to reply with their objections, if any.

The investigating agencies on the list of proposed inclusions are the Enforcement Directorate, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and the Narcotics Control Bureau. While these agencies had so far enjoyed immunity from RTI disclosure, the Central Bureau of Investigation, has all along been covered under the RTI . The paramilitary forces that have been informed about the move include the Border Security Force, the National SecurityGuards and the Indo Tibetan Border Force.

DoPT officials explained that at recent review meetings conducted on the subject, it was made very clear that RTI exemptions should be reserved strictly for intelligence agencies. “The final list of organisations set to lose their exemption will be decided at a Secretary-level meeting to be convened shortly,” an official maintained.

Source: Investigating agencies, paramilitary forces to lose cover from RTI

BSF's Crocodile Commandos to guard Sir Creek area

India's coastal vulnerability was exposed when 10 terrorists entered Mumbai from the Arabian Sea last year. But the government is now trying to put a system in place to ensure it is not caught on the wrong foot once again by a sea-borne threat.

To guard the western coast, a team of specialised marine commandos has been set up by the Border Security Force (BSF). The marine commando force, named Crocodile Commandos, has been set up to specially guard the Sir Creek area, considered the most sensitive coastal area between India and Pakistan.

The force has been given the most advanced training to guard the creek area at the most difficult situations.

Courtesy: Headlines Today

Rahul in Barmer

Source : TOI

Rahul dined with the BSF jawans after having a feel of how they brave past the odds to protect the country's borders. Rahul went on to visit various BSF chowkis bordering Pakistan in Barmer district and had thorough interaction with the jawans posted there.

Soon after Rahul was through with his political assignments in Barmer, he expressed desire to visit the border late in the evening. His visit was kept top secret and no politician was allowed to accompany him. IG, BSF (Gujarat frontier), DIG, AK Sinha, Vishnu Dutt, Barmer Sector, DIG, Narendra Gujjar took him to the borders at midnight where he visited the flood-lit chowkis.

It was learnt that Rahul visited Munabao, Marathahill, and few other BSF chowkis. "Throughout his visit, he spoke to the jawans and took stock of their life and the difficulties they face on the borders," said BSF sources. Later, he took his dinner at the conference hall of the Munabao chowki at midnight and returned to Barmer by 1.30 am.

Govt proposal for more powers to BSF to check illegal trade

• New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The government today said it is planning to grant more powers to the BSF for checking illegal trade on the borders."The Government proposes to give more powers to BSF under Section 43 of Arms Act to check illegal trade on borders," Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told Rajya Sabha today in a written reply."No representation has been received from BSF.However, the border force has offered comments on the proposal of conferring powers under Section 43 of Arms Act," Maken said.

No more 'Duty Unto Death' for the BSF
By: Anshuman G Dutta

Date: 2009-11-03

Place: Delhi
Border Security Force removes English version of motto, reverts to Hindi. Officers say the word 'death' in the phrase was affecting jawans The Border Security Force (BSF), the largest border guarding force in the country, has had a change of motto. Alarmed by the negative psychological effect the BSF's motto in English, 'Duty Unto Death', was having on its jawans, the force has silently removed it from use. Now, only the original Hindi version, 'Kartavya Jeevan Paryant' is being promoted.

"It happened sometimes back. Now our motto will be read only in the national language as 'Kartavya Jeevan Paryant,'" said a senior BSF official, wishing anonymity. He said the English version of the motto has been permanently removed from all use. "The motto of a force is printed everywhere. It finds a place on writing pads, calendars, diaries, cutleries and vehicles etc. It is a part of the daily life of the troops and gets recognised as the nature of the force," said the officer.
Interestingly, no one in the BSF remembers the exact date and sequence of events under which 'Duty Unto Death' got recognised as the English version of 'Kartavya Jeevan Paryant.' "It took over the original motto in Hindi and you will find the English version almost everywhere. But recently, it started appearing as if the force is promoting death instead of other factors required to excel in the profession," said a junior officer from BSF, wishing anonymity. Though the motto change had been planned earlier as well, this time the organisation has silently gone ahead with its plans. "The change is definite but gradual. We have started to replace the English version with the Hindi one, but it may take some time," said an officer. "The exercise may look insignificant to an outsider but for our jawans it matters a lot. They believe in the ethos of the force and live their lives by it. While English has never been their preferred language of communication, they were particularly wary of the 'death' message," said the officer. Death or life?An incident in Jammu and Kashmir highlighted the mental strain of a BSF jawan for believing in the motto written in English. A few years back after a BSF convoy faced an IED blast in J&K, militants circled the word 'death' in the motto with pebbles. "Similar incidents were reported from other areas also where militants attacked our men, convoys and camps. Later we realised that the motto instead of motivating our jawans was being used by militants to target their psychology. In fact it's almost derogatory that we were promoting death as our motto while it should have been duty throughout our lives," said the officer.

High Attrition Grips BSF

High attrition grips BSFVimal Bhatia, TNN 21 October 2009, 03:24am IST

World's largest para-military organisation, Border Security Force (BSF) suffers from highest attrition for quite a while. Experts cite reasons like low promotional avenues along with pay disparity in relation to their armed forces counterparts after the implementation of the Sixth pay commission report for the high attrition rate in the BSF. Every month at least 350-400 BSF jawans and officers seek premature retirement of which Rajasthan Frontier has not been far behind. A BSF source said the Centre does not realise the challenges our jawans and officers face every day while protecting the 7,000 km long border adjoining Pakistan and Bangladesh. "During 30-35 years of career, a BSF person could manage to stay not more than a few days with his family and the promotional avenues in comparison to the army personnel, it has been frustrating for them," said a source. According to an available data more than 900 jawans and officers from the Rajasthan Frontier alone left the job during October 1, 2008 to September 30 ,2009. The data released by BSF headquarters at New Delhi reads that in 2008 alone at least 4,400 people left the job while till June 2009, it has crossed 2,600 at the all-India level from the organisation. As the data reveals most of the personnel leave the job after completing 20 years in service just to take post retirement benefits while almost 40% of them leave the organisation well before 20 years of service on account of low wages, promotional avenues and tough living conditions and service conditions.

A retired director general BSF, M L Kumavat, accepted the fact of high attrition rate in the BSF but said "The trend has been arrested after the implementation of the pay commission report." Kumavat believes that not only the service conditions and pay disparity have not been the reasons for high attrition. "People leave the job as they get lucrative offers from the private sectors and also family pressures and responsibility plays its role," added Kumavat. Kumavat accepted the fact that a constable in the BSF takes at least 20 years to be promoted to head constable while a similar rank in the Army needs 7-8 years to reach that level.

Similarly, a second command officer in the BSF have not been included in the pay band 4 (P4) while his counterparts Lt colonel has been included. Agrees P S Nayar, general secretary, All India Central Para Military Forces and Services Welfare Association, who said "The difference between the salary of a jawan in BSF and Army is of at least Rs 5,000 a month meanwhile the difference goes up to Rs 22,000 in case of higher ranks. This disparity does more harm than good so far moral of BSF is concerned."

An email to HM

I am reproducing an email addressed to HM by a prahari.


Hon'ble Union Home Minister,
With due respect I request your personal indulgence on the subject.Some points are mentioned under, which is creating frustation in border security force:

1. An officer in Border Security Force remains a Deputy commandant after putting in 15 to 16 years of service and officers in other central paramilitary organisation enrolled in the same year through same CPOs exam is either Second-in-command(2IC) or Commandant. However army officer becomes lieutenant colonel in 12 years and gets pay band 4 however BSFofficer is likely to become 2IC after putting in 17 to 18 yrs of service but he would remain in pay band 3.

2. Army personnel posted anywhere like in Army HQ Delhi are authorised full 60 days of annual leave, 28 days of casual leave and ration money. However personnel posted in BSF HQ at places like Bandipur etc in Jammu and Kashmir and similar places in northeast get only 30 days of annual leave, 08 days of casual leave and no ration money. Now few questions that BSF personnel are generally asking but not getting the satisfactory replies is causing frustration in them.1 Are we not staying away from our families?2 Do we require lesser days of leave to spend time with our family?

3 The courses in BSF are like Army courses and the course covers conventional war subjects to give support to Army but still, why are we not at par with army ?

4 Our BSF act and rule is carbon copy of Army act and rule which says BSF is an armed force but why are we not considered as an armed force?

5 BSF personnel do not have any alternate tenure of peace and field like Army personnel and remain in Indian borders or line of control during their full service period then why our allowances are less than army personnel?

6 In all the places of militancy and line of control BSF units are under the operational command of Army Brigades doing the same task like Army then why BSF is not at par with Army where BSF constable is junior after putting in 20 years of service to an army lance naik who has put in 7 to 8 years of service?

7 Earlier the Identity of a BSF personnel in their villages was of a "Fauzi" and now they are neither fauzi nor police. Why this tragedy?

A Seema Prahari

Promotional Avenues

Reproduced below is a post on WIC dt 18/7/09 from one Bhaduria

Promotional avenues for CPO cadre officers enhanced?

(i) A couple of days ago I read the euphoric comments of some BSF officers about promotion of the first cadre officer to the rank of additional DG and enhancement of the quota in the rank of IG to 50 percent. The excitement was a bit premature though. The fine prints of both these orders need to be seen.
(ii) The promotion to the rank of Addl DG can take place only if one completes 3 years as IG. This Herculean task is well neigh possible. The average length of service left for a BSF officer has been calculated to be just one year after he becomes an IG. This is a matter of record which is verifiable. So Gaur becomes Additional DG and retires after 20 days on July 31st. The next officer has no chance of becoming Additional Director General before end of 2010. So what happens? The vacant posts of will be taken over by IPS lords after they remain vacant for 6 months. After the retirement of Mr Mishra ( who may pick up the rank of Addl DG in Jan 2001) nobody else will make it to this rank for next 5-7 years. This is the state. So there is no need for the cadre officers to be happy. They are subservient and will remain so.

I will deal with the order regarding IGs in my next post

Bhaduria

Organised Or Disorganised Service

The order to implement Non Functional upgradations for Officers of Organised Gp A Service may be seen in

 http://persmin.gov.in/WriteData/CircularNotification/ScanDocument/14017_64_2008-Estt.(RR)0001.pdf

The expression" organised Group `A' Civil Cadre" means a cadre which has all the following attributes, namely:- 

(i) the highest cadre post is not below the level of Rs.18400-22400 

(ii) it has all the standard grades, namely, Rs.8000-13500, Rs.10000-15200, Rs.12000-16500, Rs.14300-18300 and Rs.22400-24500 

(iii) at least 50% of the vacancies in the Junior Time Scale (Rs.8000-13500) are required to be filled by direct recruitment and 

(iv) all vacancies above the Junior Time Scale and upto the Senior Administrative Grade (Rs.22400-24500) are filled by promotion from the next lower grade.

All our efforts and energy should be channelized into making BSF an organized group A service if one wishes to see light at the end of the tunnel.

MUSIC FOR THE BRAVE: BSF will march to Rahman’s tune

New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) jawans will now march to the beats of Oscar winner A R Rahman. The music composer, who enchanted the world with his ‘Jai Ho’ number, has composed the theme song for the paramilitary force. The five minute song — ‘Hum Seema Suraksha Bal... Veeron ka hai ye dal (We are the Border Security Force... it is the force of the brave)’ — composed by Rahman praises the strength and valour of the force, which is responsible for guarding the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders. 

‘‘The credit for the song goes to Meghalaya governor R S Moosahary, who is a former director general of the force. He helped us get in touch with Rahman, who composed the song without charging any money for it,’’ BSF chief M L Kumawat told reporters on the occasion of the force’s investiture ceremony here on Thursday. 

After being formally released for the occasion, the song, which also captures the emotional tribulations of a jawan guarding the border while leaving his family behind, comes with a video — ‘Borderman’ — showing BSF men in action along the border, undergoing training, and the famous ‘change of guard’ ceremony at Wagah border. Kumawat said: ‘‘The song and the video capture the true spirit of the force. Rahman has also promised to come and spend time with our men to boost their morale.’’ 

On the occasion, the BSF chief also announced that the force — which will soon begin the process of raising its strength by recruiting 29,000 more personnel — would also undertake a massive modernization project costing over Rs 6,000 crore, over the next five years. The plan will also see the construction of 509 new border outposts along the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangla borders, nine new sectors and three more frontier headquarters.

Source : Times News Network

More from Whispers

I am reproducing another post that appeared in whispers.

Shocking and painful 

I do not know under what capacity some are looking after the career progression of BSF officers but if people look after career progression, how can there be any progression. Firstly,I would like to clarify that officers of BSF are selected directly as class-1 gazetted officers through All India Competetive exam conducted by UPSC. Hence they are not simple graduate. Graduation is the minimum requirement for appearing in other civil service exams which selects the elite IFS/IAS/IPS. People assume that officers of BSF are recruited under some banyan tree after simple graduation. Secondly, they mention that the officers gets timely promotions (4 in a span of 15 years).If that was the case there would have been no grievances. Let me enlighten that the time frame for promotion mentioned is the minimum required, as per the RR (framed by elite bosses from other cadre).The ground reality is even after 20 years of service a direct appointed officer is still holding the rank of Second-in-command (pay band-3) and still not sure of his next promotion. Thirdly, only rank of DIG and above is filled on the basis of availability of vacancy. Again I would like to enlighten that the complete rank structure from the humble constable to the overpaid officers are on the basis of availability of vacancy which is hardly there at the top. This is the reason for need to organise the cader properly. This point should not be interpreted as disgruntlement/dissatisfaction but is a requirement for smooth functioning of any organisation. Fourthly, BSF officers always remain with their troops in all sorts of condition and lead from the front. Proof of which is not regarded as casualty rate of officers is one of the highest in India. Fifthly, as mentioned that officers get incentive in the name of hard duties actually performed by constables, I would again Enlighten my friend that 95% of BSF(Officers & jawans) live in inhospitable and difficult terrains which is devoid of basic amenities. It is not that the officers live separately in some metropolitan/capital city and command their troops by proxy. They are with their troops ALWAYS on border posts. Of the 5% places available at various higher HQ in Delhi and other decent cities ,mostly is occupied by the top brass ( non-cadre officers). The incentive that a borderman gets (jawans & officers)in the form of hard duty allowance is not any favour or gift, it is a compensation of the sacrifice they do in the form of duty. The only grievance is that there is a discrimination between an army man and a borderman performing the same duty. Lastly, as regards to the condition of the constables of the force and their promotions .I would like to point that the MAI-BAAP of the force are the IPS officers on deputation, who are actually the rule makers and policy framers of this force. A BSF officer has no say in the career progression of a constable to officer of BSF cader. Leave aside constables of BSF even in state Police the condition are no better.

Shashwat

Whispers becoming Murmers

Finally the right kind of noise is being made in the virtual space. The article "Travails of an Unsung Prahari " has initiated some nice debate. It was heartening to see so many postings in WIC 04-05-09 . It is high time our fraternity gets out of its self induced stupor and make its presence felt in various forums. Various issues that affects us directly or indirectly should be highlighted and awareness should be generated. It is not that the results may be immediate or tangible but it will surely create a launching pad for the assault . I am reproducing some of the comments that appaered in the forum of WIC today. Keep up the good work fellow praharis

" Cadre management in CPMF

An officer of CPMF does not pick up his first promotion before 8th or 9th year of service when he becomes a Deputy Commandant although the prescribed minimum is 4 years. The 2nd promotion to the rank of second in command does not come before the 15th year of service even though the prescribed residency is only 11 years. The next rank of Commandant comes in the 20th or 21st year of service whereas the prescribed minimum is only 14 years. This rank is equivalent to that of SSP which an IPS officer or the officers of any organised group A service get in their 13th year of service on a time scale basis. The situation will further worsen because they have increased the numbers of Deputy Commandant authorised in the units to 6 from 4 without any corresponding increase in the vacancies at higher levels.

It is only a few who are able to reach the level of DIG after putting in more that 30 - 32 years of service although the prescribed minimum is only 20 years.Becoming IG is a dream come true for a cadre officer. Only about one officer per batch of 50-60 is able to reach this level. Beyond that the there is no scope.As Cadre officers, we do not seek any parity with any other service specially not with the IPS because we do not want to be equated with a service which does not have the trust of public at large and even their own ground level Police constabulary. We also know that the organisational pyramid will preclude most of the officers from reaching beyond DIG. 

What we seek and humbly pray to the Government is that we CPMF officers must have an avenue available to grow in our own organisation. A lieutenant of army can theoretically aspire to become chief one day. An IPS can aspire and will become DG of his state. An IAS officer will become Chief Secretary one day and so on. Officers of all the services can aspire to reach the very top. But a CPMF officer is debarred by the rules from becoming Additional DG, Special DG and DG of the force. He is also debarred from most of the posts of DIG and IG. Why is that so? In what manner an IPS officer is better than a cadre officer of the CPMF to man only the higher level posts even though he does not have any ground level experience or knowledge of the work culture and ethos of the forces. How can he plan the personnel and training policies of these forces when does not know anything about these forces.

The pay commission had made some far reaching recommendations like 100% quota for the cadre officers upto the rank of DIG and 50 % quota from the ranks of IG and above. However, the IPS lobby is not letting these reforms be cleared. There are atleast 20 Commandants waiting in each of the CPMF waiting for the new cadre rules to be framed which the Government has ordained but the IPS lobby is not letting pass. So these unlucky officers can neither be promoted under the old rules and new rules are not being framed. This situation has blocked the entire chain down below and hundreds of officers are suffering. The Government also has sanctioned some posts of Additional DG for cadre officers but again for the last 9 months no cadre officer has been promoted as no rules have been allowed to be framed by the very same lobby. They (IPS) have but already been promoted on these new posts. Why are they not allowing these rules to be framed - the reason is simple - they had thought that these vacancies will accrue to them but the government decided to give a share to the cadre officers.

It does not need an IQ of 140 to decipher who the author of feed back(published on 1st May ) to travails of Seema Prahari could be. He belongs to the same tribe that has been subjugating the CPMF so far. If he was so familiar with the cadre management of CPMF why is he being so economical with the truth by hiding the facts brought out above.

Seema Prahari

"

Impudent Pathethic Screwballs ( I.P.S)

The comments on "unsung Prahari" posted in WIC 01-05-09 reflects the sick mindset of the class echoeing such views. Border gaurding is a specialized job. The training , equipment , role and task and almost everything is different from what our masters in Khaki have seen,heard or done before coming on deputation. Even after joining the force there is little inclination to learn and imbibe the organisational ethos. The five years of deputation is spent on managing cushy postings, misappropiation and further manipulating the system. Except for a few exceptional gentlemen i cannot remember anyone from this so called elite service making a meaniful contribution to the force. The recommendation of 6th CPC for giving 100% DIG rank and 50% quota in the rank of IG and above has been smartly scuttled .Now going to the court seems to be the only option. If this elite lot thinks the career progression should be compared with constublary then they should do the same in the state police. That would set a nice example. The abolishing of L/Nk and NK and further the dismal state of career progression for the constubulary reflects on the poor leadership being provided by these deputationist. Since no cadre officer is any postion of importance , blaming them makes no sense.

I read the comments of one Rajesh on the travails of a BSF prahari. I totally agree that sometimes we are ourselves responsible for our subjucation. But point is not how to treat an individual outsider. The point is that the outsiders as a tribe are over riding us. We have no say in ourvown organisation. These outsiders have no experience or professional capability to command us but they continue to do so because the rules have been made in such a manner. It is the rules that need to be challanged and got over turned.

His Masters Voice

The Unsung Prahari's travails also appeared in the site whispersinthecorridors.com on 30th April 2009. And as expected the response has been quick and stinging. It doesnt require an IQ level of 140 + to make out from where it has come. I am reproducing it below

"I don't agree with the views/grievances of the anonymous "Prahari" as narrated in WIC 30-04-09. He appears to be from Officer (Group-A) side. I have had long tenures in dealing with career progression of CPMFs officers. The dissatisfaction reflected by the author is in no way sustainable. An officer joins at Asstt Comdt level after simple graduation, gets Senior Time Scale after four years, gets promotion as Dy Comdt after six years, as 2nd-in-Command after 11 years and as Commandant after 15-16 years. He becomes eligible for promotion as DIG after 20 years of service and then as IG after 24 years of service, although the promotions from DIG & above are subject to availability of vacancies in promotion quota. While such officers have severe allergy from IPS officers being appointed at higher levels or Medical Officers (with MBBS degree) being given time scale promotions, they never bother to take promotional care of their subordinate Constabulary, which comprises more than 90% of each Force and is real back bone of every Force. Whilst, an officer gets 4 promotions in around 15 years of service, a Constable does not get a single promotion even after putting in 20 years of hard service. These officers always get various incentives/perks from the Government in the name of hard duties actually being performed by poor Constables/Head Constables, but there is really none to hear their voice, which is, if raised, is suppressed at grass-foot level itself. This is the main cause of day-to-day incidents of suicides/shoot-out on superior officers by the troops. It is my humble request to the concerned authorities to do needful, whatsoever they can do at their best, for welfare/ promotional care of poor troops. "

From an Unknown Unsung Prahari

I am reproducing a letter (unedited) by an unknown unsung prahari.

"I am a BSF prahari serving in a remote location . I have a few lines 
for your kind consideration.


1. We are deployed in extreme ends of our country and operate in most hostile terrain, 
difficult and remote areas away from our families 365 daysx24 hrs to 
protect the territorial integrity of our nation. We have no peace 
postings. We keep moving from one inhospitable border to another, Line 
of Control to Deserts of Rajasthan. We are provided with substandard 
equipment. We kept fighting with 16 Kg Bullet Proof Jacket in Kashmir 
since 1989 till de-induction in 2006 whereas Rashtriya Rifles which 
was raised in 1998 or so got latest equipment, lightweight BP jackets, 
better incentives, choice postings. We have lost so many brave 
soldiers just because we had poor equipment, not enough rest and 
relief, continued deployment and poor leadership in the form of 
officers who have not even commanded a company in peace leading us in 
thick of battle and taking life and death decisions.

2. We have sacrificed the most in Counter Insurgency Operations 
in North East, Punjab and decimated insurgency in Kashmir valley. We 
are fighting shoulder to shoulder with army in Line of Control and 
also during hot war we are suppose to bear the first brunt of enemy 
onslaught.

3. Yet I feel ashamed of being a soldier of this motherland when 
we are being looked down upon by our own brethrens. Army feels they 
are superior. Our own superior officers being from different service 
make us feel low. Are they superior? But superior to whom? Whom do all 
of us serve? The people of this country! If we don’t respect own 
troops or people of this country how can we serve them. Same is with 
police and civil administrators. We have apartheid or a caste system 
in our entire security setup. When a commander does not belong to the 
troops or have no faith in its troops how can he lead.

4. Our Justice providers, like Srikrishna, does not find any thing 
different between civilian and a BSF soldier. Yet they could 
differentiate between and Armed Force personnel and civilians. BSF by 
its constitution enacted by the parliament is an Armed Force of the 
Union, it is an armed force which guards borders in peace, fights in 
counter insurgency, law and order duties and also fights alongside 
army during war and yet it is not a Armed Force in the eyes of pay 
commission and Govt of India. It is because we are lead by civil 
services officers of Indian Police Service who come on deputation at 
the rank of Inspector General and above for brief period when 
atmosphere in their home cadre is not suitable for them and go back 
when it suits. They become IG in 18 to 20 years of service whereas a 
BSF officer joining as a Group ‘A’ officer cannot dream of 
becoming an IG in his own force. We are professionals who have vast 
experience of  leading troops in most difficult conditions 
yet our voices are not heard we have no grievances redressal mechanism 
or tribunal. With strength of 4000 Group A officers we are not a 
recognized cadre whereas even Doctors of BSF, who are a support cadre 
and do not guard border which is our primary role, has an organized 
cadre. They enjoy much faster  promotions, more avenues of 
deputation and growth than the feeder cadre of BSF General Duty 
officers who are combat soldiers. You can imagine that a doctor who 
joins force much later than a BSF GD officer and remains junior in 
initial years becomes Senior with assured time bound promotion in the 
same force after few years just because he has an organized cadre. 

5. Worst is in case of jawans, after removal of Naik and Lance 
naik’s ranks, it created a scenario where a Constable joining BSF does 
not pick up even one promotion in twenty years. In a  force like 
BSF, with rank comes respect, change in nature of duty, responsibility 
and less strenuous tasks. Now it is difficult even to think that a 
person doing such hard and monotonous duty for 20 years can maintain 
the same level of motivation and ability. It not only creates stress 
but leads to indiscipline and even suicidal tendencies. 

6. Why our system is so insensitive to these issues. Nobody is 
begging for more money or better facilities but what is rightful is 
being denied. Army propagated that a Lt Col is doing higher job than 
2IC of BSF. A blind person can see that and after Bagga Commission 
army officers accepted the time scale promotion of Lt Col in 13years 
to get better benefits. After that each army battalion has four, five 
or even six Lt Col few commanding companies, and senior most being 2IC 
of the battalion. CO is a full colonel. In BSF there is post of only 
one 2IC who is second to the CO, who is equivalent to a Colonel. A BSF 
officer becomes 2IC after 15 to 16 years of service and commanding a 
company for so many years. Yet it is not visible to our government and 
after so much hue and cry and almost mutiny by the highest ranks of 
army they got PB -4 for Lt Cols. 

7. If we are civilians, why we are governed with stringent BSF 
Act and Rules. We should be governed by CCS rules like our IPS bosses. 
If we are an Armed force we should be treated like one. In past few 
years a dangerous trend has started growing. On every opportunity 
where internal security situation or incidents took place, our defence 
forces have used all PR skills to gain ascendancy over civilian setup to 
get more posts, budget and say in internal affairs. We are 
militarizing our nation. Rather than bringing police reforms and 
strengthening internal security set up by cerating separate civil 
police for law and order and armed police for internal securiy, we are 
putting military in place, take example of Coastal Command where Navy 
could get the overall command of all assets for coastal security. Navy 
should have been preparing for Naval aggression and dominating high 
seas and blue waters and Coastal security be dealt by Coast Guards who 
are primarily raised for the purpose. Similarly Rashtria Rifles, which 
was raised on an adhoc manner for Counter Insurgency sighting reasons 
by army that infantry units are required to prepare for war and not 
finght inside. But what exactly is RR. It is same army man who is 
supposed to prepare for war, but on deputation at the expence of 
Ministry of Home Affairs and with more cost than even entire J&K 
Police. If the same amount of money and strength would have been given 
to BSF, CRPF or State forces it would have been a long term effect. 
Talking against defence is considered anti national in India, so it 
goes on and days are not far when like Pakistan we will be a Military 
Nation. Recent bargaining in pay commission and entire army’s refusal 
to take their pay, despite getting much better than civilians in an 
eye opener. Writing all this may be considered a violation of the code 
but then what is the alternative. We cannot go to court, there is no 
tribunal, nobody represents us and we continue to suffer."

Four legged force

Oneupmanship is something we have all encountered but have you ever heard of camelmanship? If you haven’t, then you can be forgiven for a shortfall in knowledge. Afterall, it is not everyday that one encounters camels vying with each other to excel in doing stunts or shaking a leg to the beat of the drums.

In fact India is probably the only country in the world where its Border Security Force (BSF) not only does the job of protecting our frontiers but also trains camels to be part of a full-fledged band. The force is the single biggest employer of camels in the country with a flock of 1,100.

The animal has been part of the border force for ages with its ability to walk on sand and stay without water for days. But it was only in 1986 that K.S. Rathore, a horse rider of repute who took over as BSF’s inspector general of police in Jodhpur, floated the idea of a camel band. While training the animals to march to the tune of the band, the trainers realised the potential of making them dance too. 

Since then, the camel band has been amongst the most entertaining of shows in the state, the dance of the heavily-ornamented and bridled camels being the highlight.Of the 1,100 animals that the border force possesses, about 60 are Jaisalmeri and Bikaneri fine breed, considered capable of training others in patrolling and other ceremonial activities like racing and stunts. Of these 60, two are chosen to undergo a year-long training in dance and a third one is trained as a stand-by.

Camels have played an important part in India’s defence history. In 1971 war, there were 100 casualties amongst them. “Until then, the army had its own ones too but thereafter, the task was shifted to BSF,” says Kamal Singh Rathore, deputy commandant, Jodhpur, who looks after the training of the animals.

The training of camels, males only, starts at the age of five and the animals retire at 12 though their lifespan is about 25-30 years. With poor memory and a herd mentality, they are trained in batches of six along with a few trained ones since novices tend to copy the activities of their trained counterparts.

After a week of schooling, a saddle is harnessed on their back and weight training is initiated gradually. A rider gets to sit on his animal only after one month and a ceremonial camel is ready within a few months’ time.Racing and dancing camels are a big hit during the state’s many cultural festivals. With demand for trainers now coming from as far as Scotland and Oman, the animal is set to conquer more than the desert.

Source : India Today

 

Do we still have white men in our setup?

What is it today's reader finds so repugnant about Kipling's poem? If you were a citizen of a colonized territory (Pun intended), how would you respond to Kipling?

Take up the White Man's burden
--Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.

Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden
--The savage wars of peace--

Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen
FollyBring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden--
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden--
Have done with childish days--
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!

The British Empire was the foremost global power in the European Age of Discovery.It was the most extensive empire in world history and held sway over about a quarter of the world’s population.Colonial policy was based on the belief or conviction that white people were superior to all other races. The white man’s duty was therefore to civilise and christianize the “dark places” of the world and if necessary with the use of violence.

Do we still have white men in our setup?

Pay scale: India forced to look within

Manan Kumar

First Published : 09 Mar 2009 04:32:00 AM IST 

NEW DELHI: Relenting over the past neglect which cost a bloody mutiny, the Bangladesh Government on Friday increased border area allowance for Bangladesh Rifles personnel by 100 percent from 260 taka to 500 taka per month, besides enhancing their ration allowance at Army levels to 100 percent instead of earlier 60 percent. 

The change was effected against the backdrop of discontent that was simmering even after the bloody mutiny was quashed by the Army, the sources said. The change in the fortunes of BDR is being seen as a ray of hope among the paramilitary forces at home who till now were fighting a losing battle to get allowances at par with the Indian Army. 

Sources said that a wary BSF has already sought hard area allowance from the Centre after the BDR mutiny as general discontent of disparity was clearly visible among the ranks. Ready to consider the border force’s demand, the Centre, however, got into some technical wrangles. Sources said that the review committee constituted under an Additional Secretary (Finance) to look into paramilitary forces grievances sought area coordinates from the BSF and other forces for giving hard duty allowance. 

However, seeing developments in the neighbourhood, the committee has now more or less agreed to BSF’s suggestion to give hard area allowance at least in areas falling between zero line at the border to the battalion headquarters. Pegged at 10 to 15 percent of the basic pay, the hardship would likely be given to all ranks up to Commandant. It is expected to make a difference of Rs 600 to Rs 3,000 in the monthly pay package of paramilitary personnel deployed on border duties.

The development has brightened the hope to get special paramilitary allowance among the paramilitary forces which currently is being vetted by the review committee .

 Source : ExpressBuzz.com

To Sir With Love

Having spent the most of my conscious part of life “Sir”ing various people, starting from my school days and then during my professional life, I am forced to take a serious dekko at this word. 

Webster’s dictionary says: Noun

1. Term of address for a man.

2. (British) a title used before the name of knight or baronet.

The obsessive use of this word in the uniformed services is unparalleled. It makes me wonder whether it is an Obsessive compulsive disorder (a very fashionable disorder to have). A subaltern conversing with his senior on telephone would sound something like this, Good morning Sir, Sir, Sir sir, sir sir sir, sir, Regards sir. The no of times this word is used is directly proportional to the rank of the person on the other side (or the weight of the rank badges on his shoulders). A single sir connotes affirmation whereas a quick succession of sirs (ie sir sir sir sir preferably uttered in 0.5 secs) adds an element of seriousness to the affirmation. And anyway most of us seriously believe that there is no harm in siring a few more times than what actually is required. A recent study conducted by scientists at MIT has concluded that if we manage to utter the word “OM” even half the number of times we “sir” then attaining “moksha” is a real possibility. 

Seniors nine out of ten times are mentioned as XYZ sir, even if he is not in the listening distance. Sharma sir is a more accepted way of addressing compared to Mr Sharma, although Mr even remotely does not qualify for an invective. The usage is so prevalent that I have seen mobiles having names listed with a suffix sir. 

A variant of Sir is Sirji. Do not confuse the added ji with adding more respect to the already revered sir; it is in fact a very popular way of addressing the seniors who have missed the bus. Then there is “Siiiiiiiir” which is a sine-qua-non (for youngsters wishing to climb the corporate oops combat ladder), especially when the revered sir is regaling the younger lot about his exploits (in the good old days) after downing a few stiff ones in the mess (It is best said during the pauses in the narration). “Right sir” accompanied with a stiff hand shake is the expected way to say “bye “or “Good Bye” when you leave the esteemed company of your senior. 

Those who have had a stint in the UN would vouch for the fact that getting the “sir” out your system and getting used to addressing others by their first name is a huge cultural shock for most of us. Sir is also not a preferred way of addressing in the corporate world as the emphasis there is on building team and not hierarchy. So “to sir or not to sir” is really a million dollar question. 

Bangla aftershocks: BDR revolt rattles BSF brass

Pragya Paramita

Kolkata: The last week’s mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) jawans has forced the senior officers of its Indian counterpart, the Border Security Force (BSF), to sit up and take note of the problems its jawans face in the line of duty.Though officers said there was nothing to fear, they pointed out the disparity in pay and working conditions between the Army and the BSF, which forms the country’s first line of defence.

“We have a very strong system and while one can never say with certainty that something similar will never happen here, we have faith in our jawans as they share a healthy relationship with the officers,” said a senior BSF officer who did not wish to be named.He said besides holding games like football and volleyball between the jawans and officers to build a sense of camaraderie between them, there is also a practice of “vertical interaction”, where everyone, from the IG down the line, including the group-D staff, sit down to discuss problems. “Everyone participates in this to discuss the problems they are facing in their work,” he said.

Moreover, the BSF also holds Sainik Sammelans during which senior officers visit the far-flung outposts to have interaction with the jawans. There are also nodal officers at various levels to hear out the grievances of the jawans and address them or to pass them on to higher level.However, the officer said there are some rumblings within the BSF jawans after the removal of the posts of lance naik and naik by the Fifth Pay Commission.

“Earlier, a jawan was gradually promoted to lance naik and naik before finally becoming a head constable in nearly 20 years. Now, they can directly be promoted to head constable but only after 20 years of duty. Moreover, there is a sharp discrepancy between the pay scales for the BSF and the Army. Even the perks they receive are far less than what the Army men get,” the source said, adding the BSF jawans do not get “peace postings” the jawans in the Army get for three years after a two-year stint at the border. Ramajkrishnan, a former BSF IG (South Bengal Frontier), said, “There is absolutely no family life for the BSF jawans, while the families of the army men get accommodation.There are not enough schools take care of the educational needs of the children of the jawans.While an Army battalion has four companies, the BSF one has seven.There is no proper accommodation for the extra company.” he said

Signal for Delhi in Dhaka Rebellion

Source : OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph kolkata edition

This morning’s rebellion by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has swivelled the spotlight on pay and other job disparities Indian paramilitary forces claim they face compared with their counterparts who have similar duties in the army.
“Our government should read the message. Such a large body of armed people shouldn’t feel neglected,” former BSF chief A.K. Mitra, who retired last year, said today, hours after the rebellion over pay bias against the BDR spilled on to the streets of the Bangladesh capital.

Another officer with a paramilitary force said the Sixth Pay Commission hadn’t addressed the problem in its proposals. He said Delhi should read the “signals from the developments in Dhaka”.Giving examples, paramilitary force officials say a BSF constable gets at least Rs 2,000 less than an army jawan, who also enjoys a hardship allowance when posted in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and other sensitive areas alongside men from the paramilitary forces. 

Stagnation is another problem. Unlike Bangladesh, where army officers lead the BDR, Indian paramilitary forces like the BSF, the CRPF and the ITBP have civilian IPS officers at the helm. But discontent is high against IPS officers, who have been accused of not taking up the cause of the paramilitary forces when they were pressing for higher pay scales with the pay commission.

After the posts of lance naik and naik were scrapped, a paramilitary constable can spend up to 20 years without a promotion. “After that, we are so frustrated, retirement is the only option,” said a CRPF constable.
Another bone of contention is the military service pay, a special allowance paid across the ranks and which the paramilitary forces have now sought from the government. But the home ministry is yet to take a decision.
Paramilitary force officials also argue that while a BSF commandant commands 1,170 men, an army colonel has only 867 personnel. 

Creamy layer? really?

The debate on leadership initiated on the blog has really not taken off. I wish there were some young bright officers and also some not so young senior officers expressing their views.
What I had stated earlier in my post was that there are problems but there is no reason to be cynical. There are several people who when they were young were very good subordinates and have now turned out to be very good senior officers. The vice - versa is also true. I did not wish to turn the debate to IPS vs cadre. The reference to IPS was made because the first post on the matter had eulogised them and also many of the junior officers also keep eulogising them. I wish that the officers do come up with real grievances and suggest solutions to them instead of simply making a sweeping statement that all senior officers or all junior officers are bad or not up to the mark.
For a start let us list out the grievances that they have with their seniors. Let us be objective while doing so and also analyse whether the actions of senior officers in addressing those grievances were driven by ill motive against the officer concerned or they had some constraints?

Seminar On Leadership

Good luck to our creamy layer as they gather to join their heads. I wish they hear themselves with clarity and feeling of accommodation. For me the issue is clear-the direction come from directors and not from managers and workers . The topic is both -a ‘gimmick’ and also a ‘serious issue‘- depends how we behave and how individuals take it. I can visualise the proceedings -‘Some of them behaving merely as 'Individuals' and a few of them behaving as 'institutions', both- to my horror, wasting time! I can bet that none would come prepared, except the steering rod-trying to make a dent.(number game)- the only endeavor we indulge in. I wish the seminar was only for the volunteers irrespective of the rank. I wish all volunteers were requested to post their presentation a week earlier for steering committee to chart out the course of discussion- to bring out a paper at the end. Since there is not sufficient time left for the stirrers to redesign the chain of detonation i request some assertions and facts could be circulated and the feedback could be compiled without discussion in form of 'Ayes', 'Nos’ and ‘Neutral'-without names and signatures of delegates. For simplifying my viewpoint i am exemplifying an assertion and a fact. Assertion 1- The issue of evolution of leadership in BSF is neglected one and BSF officers themselves are to blame for their status.Fact 1- I always ensured that dignity earned ‘in uniform’ would earn me respect in BSF circles in my post retirement days. It feels hollow to realise that such issues are echoed in discussions only. On ground there is hardly any clue reflecting the sincerity of ‘Command‘. I am suggesting some lines of thoughts for the seminar. I wish they could be read over in the discussion for a crisp start and a ‘cause’ and to make this ‘Head Count exercise‘ worth it. Kindly remember that in Forces the System is ‘Seniors‘.* Commandants and above behave more like ‘Babus’ rather than a Commander. Only a few have wisdom teeth. Majority provide mass to ‘stamps’ of clerical staff. * Most of the Commandants and above still use inspections as a coercive tools.* Many DIGs harbored a grudge against allotment of the sidelined rooms in all ranks during their career progression in Jammu Mess. And they carried the legacy when they had chance to improve.* The only benchmark of progression is age and clean record. The system do not require quality. Many of us never deserved to be where we are. And we never cared to evolve a system. * We still have a chance. We must not forget that after all these years we should have some experience that could benefit the system and the juniors.* There is no use discussing IPS vs. BSF Officers. Why do we expect from outsiders. What have we done to be recognized and to be emulated by Juniors.

More on Junior Leadership Vs Senior Leadership

The topic of Junior leadership vs senior leadership is an interesting one and also cause of much debate in the service circles that I ferquent. I some how am a sounding board for many youngesters to express their views about the quality of senior leadership. The view most often expressed is that the cadre officers are much worse than 'Your Lordships the IPS officers". I disagree with this view, without disagreeing with the views of juniors on the quality of leadership provided by some of our own officers. Why do thy forget the famous case of an IPS officer in a CPo who made everyone buy the framed photographs made by him for the regimental institutions and also for display in personal homes? And has every one forgotten the manner in which he used to treat the officers under his command, the uncouth language used , mental harrasment etc ? Have people forgotten about another IPS officer who is on deputation to the same organisation for the 2nd time and how many ACrs he is supposed to have spoiled? The list can be endless. The IPS officers are equally bad or good as the cadre officers. The only thing is that they do not have knowledge of the profession and the ethos of the organisation so they catch hold of one or two officers who very eagerly lap up the opportunity and become their blue eyed boys. More so these IPS officers are not in direct command so they only come into picture to intervene when things go beyond control and they spread this canard that the cadre officers are bad and they are good.

Another question that troubles my mind is that these very senior officers to use the words of sierra were some times junior officers saying the same things about their seniors that the juniors tell about them. Then why do the forget their own days and do not try to rectify things. Some officers whom I found very vocal when they were ACs or DCs are now Commandants and they are doing the same things to their juniors that they supposedly sufferred. Why? I am also sure that many of the juniors of today who are vocal or are sufferring today will do the same things tomorrow when they are those senior positions. I hope we could think and act with empathy when we become seniors and do not perpuate the same tortures on our juniors that we sufferred.

Another thing that both seniors and juniors need to do is to think things through from each other's perspective.

Last but not the least. I have asked many of the juniors to take a survey and discuss the quality of leadership in the units of any one formation . To their own surprise, when they took the names and described their qualities, they rated atleast 80% of them in very good or above category. Let us not go by rumours. The facts are sometimes differrent and spread with ulterior motives. The bad stories spread faster. The good ones have to be spread with effort.

This to my mind is mainly a canard being propagated by the IPS people to continue their hegemony. Have I opened a pandoras box?

Seeking Utopia in Uniform

Kudos to Sierra69 for the blog “Senior Leadership is culpable too”. This is certainly a discussion material in the seminar “How to strengthen the junior leadership” provided we are able to dust off the cobwebs from our conditioned thinking. A paradigm shift in our approach to command is required, more so at the CO level. A similar blog written by Maj Navdeep, articulating similar sentiments has appeared in indianmilitarybenifits.blogspot.com. Excerpts are as under: -

"How we behave with our own people becomes a benchmark for others to emulate in life outside the cantonment. While we tend to compare our status, stature and salaries with other services, isn’t there an underlying negativity in behavioural patterns being displayed with impunity by us ? Are we setting the right example for others to follow or sending the right signals ? Are we projecting our service as a hallmark of pride of the nation ?. The answer is definitely in the negative. Our internal organisational behaviour ultimately extends to how we are treated by the outside world and we definitely need to improve on how we interact with our own. 

There is no dearth of examples as to how we dig our own graves. How often do we see more than one Commissioned Officers being bunched into below-status single rooms in Messes on the ground of non-availability. I, for myself have seen situations where ample accommodation is available but still officers being asked to stay in small living spaces on the pretext that the (abundant) vacant accommodation is a contingency back-up for (imaginary) ‘VIPs’. Do we see the same on the civil side ? Do we see SDMs who are equivalent to Lieutenants of the Army being asked to live and stay in rooms like we do ? Never. Often we see junior officers being asked to travel in heavy trucks despite the availability of respectable light transport, why do we do this? Do we expect people outside to be impressed by a strapping young Captain in Combats sitting in a Three Tonner ? Do we, by this action, attract youngsters to join the services ? No amount of ‘Do you have it in you ?’ campaign would work unless we bring the pride, the glamour and the respectability back into our uniform and the so called ‘baboos’ are not responsible for this, the problem lies closer to us than we think – each of us is to blame. 

Honour has no rank. A Subaltern is much more capable than merely looking for an apt place to put the shamiyana in the Mess lawn. That Subaltern’s civilian counterpart - an SDM or an Addl DC/DM with the same education and from the same recruitment pool, looks after the revenue, executive, administrative, law & order and quasi-judicial functions of an entire sub-division and sometimes even a district and we are not even able to trust our own guy with a Light Motor Vehicle !How we behave and conduct ourselves outside ultimately has an indirect effect on how people in uniform are perceived and it percolates down to the last rank in the file."

PB-4 for 2iC's :Representations from Officers

I am reproducing a letter sent by one CPMF officer to his DG regarding the non inclusion of CPMF 2iCs in PB-4. I hope other officers in the CPMF are also voicing their concern to their respective chiefs. A quick search on google however gives a blank. Posted below is the edited version of that letter

Dear Sir, 

Wish you a very happy new year. It is heartening to see PM intervening favorably to Army generals who have actively and successfully represented the case of Lt Col’s in Army for up gradation to Pay Band-4. The up gradation vindicates the stand of Army for a distinct place and role attached to the rank of Lt Col as ‘Second-in-Command’ in a Battalion. I see in it the acceptance of a justified place for a Second-in-Command’ of a battalion matched by a commensurate pay package. 

Denial of the same status to ‘Second-in-Command’   is however a severe blow to my self esteem as a Second-in-Command of a  Battalion. The decision smells of the double standards discriminating CPMF officer vis-à-vis Army Lt Col who has been recognized as the favored one. Sir, forced to accept a lower status  and compelled to believe to be  ‘last among equals’ ,I still have a right to dignity and equality.In the wake of government’s decision I wish to communicate my apprehensions. I fear- 

Ÿ         Loss of status 

Ÿ         Disparity in protocol and humiliation at gatherings where even if representing as Officiating Commandant I would be treated as junior to all Lt Cols of Army.

Ÿ         Loss of Self esteem due to non recognition. Issue of Lt Cols vs. 2ICs has come up in open in terms of parity.

Ÿ         Financial Loss that accumulates to  lacs when calculated in comparison to Lt Cols in Army.

  My pride in the uniform has suffered a serious erosion in the present rank  twice. First, when Pay Commission placed the rank of 2IC in Pay Band -3 forgetting that the rank has command obligations and secondly when Honorable Prime minister restored status to Lt Cols and neglected 2ICs in CPMF.  I still preserve my hopes with you as DG   to correct the anomaly.

 Sir, today with 20 years of service, officers of the rank of Second-in-Command are feeling humiliated and de-motivated. The extent of injustice and the  apathy towards CPMF officers in the government hierarchy is appalling.  I am pinning my hopes on you being our Director General, in whom I repose my confidence and faith to take up the matter with Shri P Chidambaram,  the Honorable Home Minister and with Honorable Prime Minister of India who I am sure would do justice if informed properly. A favorable action would go a long way in improving the feeling of pride in uniform .         

Devbrat Negi   

Second-in-Command

More BN for BSF

BSF to raise 29 battalions to check terrorists' influx

Tue-Jan 20, 2009

Guwahati / Indo-Asian News Service

India has decided to raise 29 battalions comprising 29,000 personnel of frontier guards to man the country's border with Pakistan and Bangladesh to check cross-border terrorism and infiltration of illegal migrants, officials on Tuesday said. "The central government has sanctioned 29 more Border Security Force (BSF) battalions and we hope to raise them soon and deploy them in the border areas. About 12 battalions would be deployed in the northeastern region, while the others would be kept for internal security duties," BSF Director General M L Kumawat said in Guwahati. He said India was prepared to meet any challenges on the western frontiers with border guards on a state of high alert. "We are ready for any eventualities with our troopers on maximum vigil," Kumawat said. He said terror operators from Pakistan were now using the unfenced border that India shares with Nepal and Myanmar to enter India. "With the India-Bangladesh border now almost fenced and patrolling intensified, Pakistan's ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) was unable to penetrate it and hence the border with Nepal and Myanmar has become more vulnerable," the BSF chief pointed out. Kumawat said there were 110 camps of northeastern Indian separatist groups in Bangladesh.  "We are aware of camps in Bangladesh and we hope Dhaka would support us in evicting those rebels from their soil," the BSF chief said. Quoting intelligence reports, Kumawat said nearly 1.3 million Bangladeshi nationals have not returned to their country from India from 1972 to 2008.  "Infiltration has come down considerably due to stepped up vigil and border fencing," the BSF official said.