Now, Army medals for paramilitary forces

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move that will bring much cheer to the paramilitary forces, the home ministry is planning to confer gallantry awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra and Kirti Chakra on those showing exemplary courage in internal security duties. Until now such awards were reserved for the armed forces.

Paramilitary personnel are presently awarded police medal and president's police medal for gallantry for exhibition of courage in battlefield.

There is considerable difference both in terms of perception of honour and cash rewards between the two set of awards.

Home ministry sources said the issue has been actively discussed by the ministry and a policy on the same would soon be unveiled after informing the President who bestows these awards on the deserving.

Home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday even hinted at such a policy. Singh said government has decided to confer gallantry awards on security personnel who sacrificed their lives in recent Naxalite attacks in Chhattisgarh and said it would also extend benefits to their kin.

"We have also finalized other facilities to be given (to their family members). We will make a proper announcement as soon as possible," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

The new policy will entitle forces, such as CRPF, BSF, ITBP, NSG and SSB — who are engaged in offensives against Maoists, militants in Jammu & Kashmir and northeastern states — with same benefits and awards as that of armed forces personnel when they fight bravely or sacrifice their life for the nation.

"This has been a longstanding demand of paramilitary forces. They fight with the same valour and intensity as the Army and sacrifice as many lives. There is no reason why the two forces should have any difference in awards," said a home ministry official.

It must be noted that during the 2013 Uttarakhand deluge, a chopper undertaking rescue operation crashed in Kedarnath killing 20 soldiers. While five of these, belonging to Indian Air Force, were granted gallantry medals the next year, 15 ITBP personnel who died with them were not considered. It was only after much media coverage of the discrimination that government last year conferred gallantry medals to these men as well.