Question : CREATION OF NEW BATTALIONS

(a) whether the Government plan to raise some new battalions of the Rashtriya Rifles with over 25,000 troops and a Himalayan regiment on the lines of Jat/Gorkha Regiments to assist people from North-Eastern Hilly States;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the anticipated expenditure recurring and non-recurring on the new establishment;

(d) whether the Government propose to divert this avoidable expenditure for development projects to fight starvation and poverty; and

(e) if not, reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI U.V. KRISHNAMRAJU)

(a) to (e): Government have approved, in principle, a proposal to raise thirty new battalions of Rashtriya Rifles over a period of five years, @ six battalions per year commencing from 2000-2001 to 2004-2005, subject to an annual review each year prior to the actual raisings. These new battalions are being raised for relieving the regular army units which have been deployed for counter insurgency duties along side the para military forces in the J&K State. There is no proposal under consideration for raising a Himalayan Regiment in respect of North Eastern States. The anticipated expenditure for these planned raisings is Rs. 575 crore initially and Rs. 545 crore for annual maintenance. This expenditure is not avoidable in the context of the security imperatives that face the nation. However, this expenditure is not at the cost of development projects which are funded in their own right and priority.