CRPF jawan video seeks better pay

New Delhi: A video shot by central reserve police force (CRPF) constable Jet Singh — in which he is seen demanding better working conditions and pay at par with the Army — has gone viral. This is the second such incident in a week that forced top authorities on Thursday to take note of the issues flagged and promise better working conditions for the security forces.

On Saturday, border security force (BSF) constable Tej Bahadur Yadav posted three video showing “poor quality” food being served to security personnel.  

Sources said the Union home ministry, which has already taken a note of the videos, plans to initiate some corrective measures. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also sought  a detailed report from the home ministry in this regard.

“There are some short-term and long-term issues raised by the constables. While issues like better quality food and proper place to sleep or rest are being addressed immediately, the pay parity issue will take time as it has to be examined in detail by different ministries,” a senior home ministry official said.  

Sources said the Union finance ministry also held a high-level meeting with some paramilitary officials on the issue of pay parity and other benefits at part with the Army.

In the wake of the ongoing row, Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said that he personally monitors the quality of food being served to Army jawans, and he has already directed that only Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-approved chicken should be served to them.

Though Mr Parrikar said he will not be able to comment much about the BSF issue as it comes under the home ministry.

The CRPF, which is India’s largest paramilitary force, said it has already taken a note of the issues raised by the constable. “This is an old video in which the jawan has some service-related grievances. An inspector general-rank officer of the force has already got in touch with him. We have made it clear that if there are any problems to the troops, we will address them immediately,” said CRPF director general K. Durga Prasad.

According to the CRPF, Jeet Singh had raised these issues when protests demanding “one-rank-one-pension” took place last year, and the force had already discussed the issue with the 7th pay commission.

“The constable has not complained about any organisation and has only voiced his aspiration. CRPF is highly sensitive about the welfare of its jawans. Regular efforts are made for redress of their grievances at several levels. In the event of any major incident, the DG and senior officers promptly visit them to raise their morale,’’ the CRPF said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the BSF in its interim report to the home ministry has clarified that there is no shortage of ration for the personnel and that Tej Bahadu Yadav did not share his grievance even when a senior officer visited him and other personnel two-three days before the videos were posted.