New Delhi: In a move that will bring cheers to lakhs of constables working in paramilitary forces, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to re-introduce the long abolished post of `Havildar` in forces like CRPF and BSF ensuring a 5-year faster promotion to these personnel in the lower rungs of hierarchy.
A committee of force chiefs of CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB and CISF recently met Union Home Secretary RK Singh after which it was decided to create and introduce this post which will lessen the long promotion time of 19-20 years for a Constable to become a Head Constable by 5 years, and he/she will be promoted in 14 years to the new post of `Havildar`.

From `Havildar` to Head Constable the promotion time would be about two-three years which effectively means that these personnel who are the backbone of security forces will be able to get two promotions in less than 20 years as compared to the current norm of only one promotion in two decades.
The Home Ministry has now asked all the paramilitary forces, with an estimated strength of 5-6 lakh constables, to prepare a blueprint in this regard and soon implement this much desired welfare measure in their respective forces.

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"This new measure which has been approved in-principle by the Home Ministry will not only bring a lot of happiness among the constabulary but will also boost their morale at a time when we are seeing attrition in these forces deployed for rendering hard duties in the internal security domain across the country," a senior official privy to the development said.
The Home Ministry is facing a challenge to lift up the enthusiasm of these men and women who had a long-time grievance of not getting promoted by even one rank in 20 years or more in their service.

Now, with a promotion in 14 years, the ministry has given these personnel, who are the backbone of the organisation, a silverline of hope, the official added.

With this promotion, the constables will also get a hike in their salaries whose quantum will vary from force to force and which will be notified soon, the official added.
The `Havildar` post in these forces was retained on the lines of the Army when they were raised but some years after a regular recruitment mechanism was evolved for them, the post was abolished, the official said.
PTI