The Crucial Expertise of CAPF

The Hindu     6th November 2020     Save    

Context: The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) play an important role in carrying out rescue and relief operations, and mitigating the problems arising out of natural or man-made disasters. 

Constituents of CAPF:

  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
  • Border Security Force (BSF)
  • Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF)
  • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
  • Assam Ri?es
  • The Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP)
  • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) – has a core competency in tackling biological disasters like COVID-19; has 12 battalions with 1,149 personnel recruited from CAPFs.

Achievements of the CAPF during COVID-19 

  • Pro-active Actions by ITBP: At the onset of COVID-19 in India, the ITBP had already set up its 600­bed quarantine centre in Chawla on the out­ skirts of New Delhi. 
    • ITBP established a 600-bed quarantine centre in just two days!
    • A 10,000-bed quarantine Centre was established at Chattarpur in New Delhi by the ITBP – being the largest quarantine centre in the world.
    • The expertise acquired and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was used to prepare states with their own quarantine centres.
  • NDRF rendering its yeoman’s service: not only in carrying out rescue and relief operations but also in training the State Disaster Response Forces personnel in all States.  

Way Forward:

  • Augment the strength of personnel:  
    • Utilise the expert personnel: who have completed their stint in the NDRF previously for COVID-19 relief operations.
    • Conducting bridge courses: For, E.g. NITI Aayog has proposed a bridge course for dentists to render them eligible for MBBS degree, in order to utilise them in an emergency.

Conclusion: The multifarious experience of security forces has helped greatly in combating COVID­19.