Specialized India Reserve Battalions

As the Maoist threat has put on hold several development works across the country, the Centre has sanctioned seven battalions — over 7,000 personnel — of ‘specialized’ force, who will execute basic infrastructure projects, including construction of roads, under their protection in the Red Zone. States will soon start the process of raising the ‘force’. The new force – called Specialized India Reserve Battalions (SIRBs) — will have two units. While one unit will have engineers and technical staff, the other unit will consist of security personnel. Out of seven SIRBs, two have been sanctioned for Chhattisgarh — the worst Maoist-hit state — while, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Maharashtra will raise one battalion each over the next three months. The states will try to recruit as many locals as possible for raising the new force, mainly in the security wing. “Funds have also been released for this purpose for these five states. The home ministry will sanction three more battalions of specialized force for the states in due course,” said a senior official, adding the Cabinet Committee on Security had in July approved the proposal to raise 10 SIRBs. The need for such a force was long felt as Maoists had been barring the government’s attempt to create basic infrastructure in the Red Zone by repeatedly targeting development works and economic installations.