Chidambaram approves 8,800 new houses for CRPF personnel

Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday said the Centre was committed to providing housing facilities to personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and has approved the construction of over 8,800 new houses for them.

“We have approved 8,826 separate housings for the CRPF personnel,” Mr. Chidambaram said while addressing the personnel of the central paramilitary force on the occasion of its 70th Raising Day. The minister said he was aware of the living conditions of troopers and had asked states to provide them at least basic minimum living conditions.

Mr. Chidambaram also said officers at the middle and senior level have to adopt new tactics to maximise success during operations.

CRPF Director General A.S. Gill said his force’s role was very versatile as they were fighting terrorists, extremists and Maoists at the same time.

“We are operating in different terrains and circumstances. For every operation we need specialised training. Specialisation is the need of the hour and for this we have designed exclusive training theatres,” he said.

CRPF, one of the world’s largest paramilitary forces, has 207 battalions with a strength of 260,000 personnel. Its men are posted in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern states and all left wing extremist areas.