To boost border
security, the Congress on Tuesday promised to increase the strength of border
guarding forces, construct integrated border outposts and accelerate the
construction of roads along India-China and India-Myanmar borders.The strength
of border guarding forces -- the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra
Seema Bal (SSB), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Assam Rifles --
will be increased and they will be posted on or close to the border to prevent
infiltration, illegal immigration and smuggling, said the Congress manifesto
for the Lok Sabha elections released on Tuesday. The Congress also said it will
construct modern and well-equipped integrated border outposts to provide good
working and living conditions for the forces and that the distance between two
border outposts will be reduced. Giving relief to the forces, it promised that
the period of their posting in high altitude border outposts will be reduced to
three months at a time.Noting that India's borders must be secure, Congress
promised to accelerate the construction of border roads along all borders of
India, especially, the India-China border. "We will enhance the capacity
of the border roads organisation and create separate divisions to build roads
along the India-China and the India-Myanmar borders," it said.
In further relief,
the Congress said at any given time, an adequate number of battalions will be
on rest, recuperation and training and will not be deployed on operational
duties. A Committee will set up to draft new Service Rules for paramilitary
personnel, it said.Congress also promised to ensure increased representation of
women to achieve a minimum of 33 per cent in the force strength of the Central
Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and
the BSF. "Every effort will be made to induct more women into the other
border guarding forces, namely, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles.""We will
enhance the facilities of health, education and housing for the personnel of
the CAPFs and their families to bring them on par with the facilities provided
for the Armed Forces. We will set up schools on the model of Sainik schools to
enhance educational opportunities for their children," said the
manifesto.The Congress also promised to enhance the status of the paramilitary
personnel and benefits to their families if they die in action.