Centre approves procurement of 59,000 bulletproof jackets - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Ministry has given approval for procurement of 59,000 light weight bullet proof jackets for the Central Police Forces. Presenting April month report card, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said here on Friday that the ministry has also given clearance to procure 378 automatic grenade launchers and related ammunition at a total cost of Rs. 37.83 crore. Pillai said the ministry has also cleared the Border Security Force (BSF) proposal to procure 34,377 nine mm carbines at a cost of Rs 137.51 crore and 104 hand grenade simulators at a cost of Rs 6.24 crore The Home Ministry has given approval for the procurement of 1,000 Glock pistols for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. Pillai also informed that work is in progress under the ambitious CPMF Housing Project. Till date 91 bids have been received for the five clusters in 30 sites for 13,026 dwelling units. He said that the ministry has received sanctions amounting to Rs. 342.29 crore for acquisition of land and construction of buildings, barracks, hospitals for CPMFs. In the last fiscal the ministry has given approvals for strengthening CPOs and CPMFs, thereby increasing the manpower strength of these organizations by approximately 75,000 personnel. Pillai said the ministry has approved the BSF 's proposal to raise 29 Battalions, three Frontiers and seven Sectors. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which is battling Naxals in Central India, has got approval for 38 Battalions including two women battalions. The Ministry has given permission for four battalions of the premier anti Naxal force the Special Action Group (SAG) , which was earlier known as CoBRA. The CISF has got permission to recruit 5962 new posts, while the ministry has created four regional hubs and two Regional Centre (RC) of the National Security Guards (NSG). The Ministry has approved 250 posts for the NCB. Pillai said even India Reserve Battalions (IRB) would come up in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Orissa.