MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) to (c): A Statement is annexed.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5215 FOR 27.4.2000.
Six porters companies were raised by recruitment of 2727 porters from the State of J&K in June, 1999 during `OP VIJAY` for a period of six months, out of which 1181 porters were recruited from Kargil and Leh Sectors alone. These companies have since been disbanded.
2. Recruitment is carried out in Army, based on the Recruitable Male Population (RMP) of each State, so as to give equitable opportunity and representation to all eligible citizens, strictly on merits. Vacancies are distributed to States as follows:-
(a) Fixed Class Based on class composition of the States
(b) All India All Class Based on the RMP of the State
3. So far as J&K State is concerned, Government sanction to raise four companies of Ladakh Scouts consisting of 638 personnel were issued during the year 1999. This was also intended to increase employment opportunities for the youth of Ladakh region who are better acclimatized to the difficult terrains of the region, apart from such employment serving as a bulwark against anti-social and anti-national elements.
4. North Eastern States were allotted 600 additional vacancies in recruitment year 1998-99. These vacancies were further sub allotted to the States of North East based, on their Recruitable Male Population. Meanwhile, Government have approved in March, 2000 a proposal by Ministry of Home Affairs for raising 12 Battalions of Central Para Military Forces for five years and 5 India Reserve Battalions. Of these, 5 Battalions will be that of Assam Rifles and 1 IR Battalion will be of Tripura.
5. Recruitment rallies as part of the on-going recruitment process were conducted in Kargil, Akhnoor, Rajouri & Jammu region for enrolment of candidates of these areas. Special screening was done of candidates in the recruitment process who had been employed in porter coys now disbanded in Kargil. Out of these, till date, 25 disengaged porters have been enrolled on their own merits.
