Jagdalpur, (Chattisgarh): The Union Home Minister may have said that the buck stops with him and offered to resign, but that has not helped the morale of security forces fighting Maoists. The jawans are feeling more neglected and isolated than ever before.
Even before the coffins of the slain jawans left Chattisgarh, discontent among the CRPF jawans had come out in the open. Low salaries, abysmal living conditions, yet more and more CRPF boots are being set on the ground to tackle the Maoists.
DISCONTENT IN CRPF:
CNN-IBN: After this recent Maoist attack is your morale low?
CRPF JAWAN: The jawan is fighting on the ground, but are getting only Rs 300 allowance, the ones commanding are getting Rs 5000 - Rs 10000, the ones sitting in A/C offices are getting Rs 10000 - 15000 but what about the guys who are fighting with death everyday. Even after asking the government, we don't get anything.
CNN-IBN: Are there proper camps?
CRPF JAWAN: There are no proper camps, headquarters in Bastar are better, but we never go there. There are no proper schedules, officers tell us to go anywhere at anytime, sometimes till midnight or 1 am we are on the ground.
CNN-IBN: What if 76 IPS officers died today? Do you think the reaction of the government will be different?
CRPF JAWAN: Not 76, only two is enough.
CNN-IBN: Have you raised this issue ever?
CRPF JAWAN: We can only request but only for our personal problems, if we raise any force level issues then we will be rebuked. The British have gone but left the babus behind. The Officers act like British babus with us. The condition will always remain like this, nothing will change. Even when Central government will declare some package in Parliament, the big bosses will fatten their pockets further. They are buying crores of machinery and getting commissions. We don't even get a deserving pay.
Is the government listening. Because if they are not, expect more demoralisation and casualties.
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