17 reserve battalions for J&K, Naxal-hit states, says govt

The Left-Wing Extremism affected states includes Chhattishgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha. In all five battalions would be raised in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Chhattisgarh, three each in Jharkhand and Odisha and two in Maharashtra. Local youths will be recruited and the age and educational criteria will be relaxed by the states, if required.

In J&K, 60 percent of the vacancies of the posts of constables and class IV will be filled from border districts. In LWE states, 75 percent of the vacancies of constables will be filled up from 27 core districts under Security Related Expenditure Scheme.

The decision to raise fresh India Reserve Battallions follows the failure of compatibility between the local police and central para military forces due to huge difference in their levels of training. 

Earlier in 2013 a decision was taken to train local policemen by the central forces as Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh has posed a big challenge for security forces operating in the state and the local police administration did not have large training facilities and infrastructure to train 

its personnel.

The Government had introduced the scheme of Indian Reserve Battalions in 1971 and so far, 153 battalions have been sanctioned to various states. Of them, 144 have been raised and one battalion in Jharkhand has been converted into Specialized Indian Reserve Battalion.

Cabinet also gave its nod to increase the authorised share capital of National Scheduled Caste Finance Development Corporation (NSCFDC) from one thousand crore to one thousand two hundred 

crore rupees.  

The decision will enlarge the quantum of funds available for economic activities, better coverage and enhanced outreach to double the Below Poverty Line Scheduled Caste beneficiaries. The NSFDC provides loans at concessional interest rates for self-employment and economic development activities.