NEW DELHI: ITBP is fully prepared for continued winter deployment in high-altitude areas of Ladakh witnessing a standoff with the Chinese troops, having doubled its winter clothing stocks with appropriate snow-proof gear for different altitudes and improved living conditions and infrastructure at its border outposts.
This information was shared by ITBP DG S S Deswal with the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs on Thursday. The panel chaired by Congress MP and deputy leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma had called the ITBP DG for a briefing on the “review of functioning, training and infrastructure of ITBP”, during which the issue of preparedness of the Central para-military force, which mans Indo-China border along with the Army, for continued deployment during winter at points of faceoff with the PLA troops, was discussed.
Incidentally, while the facilities and infrastructure at the areas witnessing a standoff on the Indo-China border came up for discussion, the Chinese troops or their actions were not raised. The members also did not ask the ITBP brass present, any China-specific questions and stuck to probing them on preparedness of troops as well as augmentation in the logistics and infrastructure at border outposts, particularly in Ladakh, amid the current standoff with China.
Sources told TOI that the ITBP chief made a comprehensive presentation during the meeting regarding the state of preparedness of the force as well the facilities and infrastructure in high-altitude areas to ensure that the troops were fully geared to stay put in the face of harsh winter. The members deeply appreciated the work done to ensure that the ITBP is geared up for deployment even in the harshest of winter. ITBP informed the committee that there are no shortfalls in its preparedness. It said the force had sourced the best of winter clothing for different altitudes and is fully battle-ready.
A BJP MP from Rajya Sabha wanted to know why Army was seeking the operational command of ITBP, which currently reports to the home ministry. Also, he sought social auditing within ITBP where the personnel can raise their problems and grievances internally. The member also raised the compulsory retirement of around 100 jawans suffering from Alzheimers and mental illnesses in 2014 and sought measures to ensure mental health of the personnel so that this is not repeated.
Another member from TMC is said to have pointed to the lack of basic facilities like electricity, water, communication and connectivity at many ITBP border outposts. “Adjoining border states that are power-surplus states should ensure that electricity reaches these outposts, and all the home ministry needs is to pay them. Similarly, communication facilities to allow soldiers to stay regularly in touch with their families must be ensured,” a member is said to have stated at the meeting.