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on off on off......
No water, food or medicines. Now, go fight 'biggest threat'
DORNAPAL (CHHATTISGARH): For six years, the government has cried hoarse about Maoists being the single biggest security threat to India. Yet, the Indian state is sending its footsoldiers into battle on an empty stomach, without adequate drinking water and medical facilities.
CRPF men on the frontline of the war against Maoists in the dense jungles say the Red combatants are just one of the threats they face. Jawans of 62nd battalion of CRPF holed up in the Chintalnar camp -- near the site of Tuesday's ambush that left 76 men dead -- say they can defend themselves against another Maoist attack but are defenceless against malaria and poisonous reptiles. Conditions aren't any better at the other camps, jawans said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Several jawans claimed patrolling parties often go without enough food. "We are also fighting in the anti-insurgency mode. Army soldiers get dry fruits and other eatables in sufficient quantity during operations. We have to fight on empty stomach and dry throats. Our jawans need food that matches the task at hand," said a CRPF jawan.
"Malaria is one of the biggest challenges of living here. People frequently fall sick. Some of us have to proceed on sick leave. What has made matters worse is the non-availability of medical facilities," said one CRPF jawan staying in the camp.
"Forget qualified doctors, there are not even decent medicine shops. The local doctors would prescribe the same regular medicines for disease. The nearest hospitals are some distance away. This is not only our plight but of everyone posted or deployed in remote jungle camps," he said.
Apart from lack of medical assistance, jawans also complained of poisonous insects and snakes. "At night, you are not sure of what may bite or sting you. Forget patrolling, one is not safe even in camps," said a CRPF constable. "If a snake or something as poisonous bites a victim, there may not be a chance to save him," he added.
Scarcity of water is another issue plaguing the personnel at the camps and while there may be a few pumps, these are often rendered useless in the absence of electricity. "Water is a big problem here. We have no clue how to manage in this place where we have to work under constant threat and high daytime temperatures," said a jawan.
He said jawans on active patrol have to go without potable water at times. "There is no surety we would get drinking water. Sometimes we have to drink water from the same pond that animals use to quench their thirst. The unhygienic living conditions are leading to diseases and many personnel are falling sick," he said.
"There is no pat on the back for a good job done but always some kind of harassment in the name of discipline," said a jawan.
While it is easy for politicians to issue war cries far from the battleground, those on the ground say they are ill-equipped to fight under the conditions they have to. "We are losing lives in a battle that can be sorted out. There are many ways in which our force can be better utilized," said the jawan.
DORNAPAL (CHHATTISGARH): For six years, the government has cried hoarse about Maoists being the single biggest security threat to India. Yet, the Indian state is sending its footsoldiers into battle on an empty stomach, without adequate drinking water and medical facilities.
CRPF men on the frontline of the war against Maoists in the dense jungles say the Red combatants are just one of the threats they face. Jawans of 62nd battalion of CRPF holed up in the Chintalnar camp -- near the site of Tuesday's ambush that left 76 men dead -- say they can defend themselves against another Maoist attack but are defenceless against malaria and poisonous reptiles. Conditions aren't any better at the other camps, jawans said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Several jawans claimed patrolling parties often go without enough food. "We are also fighting in the anti-insurgency mode. Army soldiers get dry fruits and other eatables in sufficient quantity during operations. We have to fight on empty stomach and dry throats. Our jawans need food that matches the task at hand," said a CRPF jawan.
"Malaria is one of the biggest challenges of living here. People frequently fall sick. Some of us have to proceed on sick leave. What has made matters worse is the non-availability of medical facilities," said one CRPF jawan staying in the camp.
"Forget qualified doctors, there are not even decent medicine shops. The local doctors would prescribe the same regular medicines for disease. The nearest hospitals are some distance away. This is not only our plight but of everyone posted or deployed in remote jungle camps," he said.
Apart from lack of medical assistance, jawans also complained of poisonous insects and snakes. "At night, you are not sure of what may bite or sting you. Forget patrolling, one is not safe even in camps," said a CRPF constable. "If a snake or something as poisonous bites a victim, there may not be a chance to save him," he added.
Scarcity of water is another issue plaguing the personnel at the camps and while there may be a few pumps, these are often rendered useless in the absence of electricity. "Water is a big problem here. We have no clue how to manage in this place where we have to work under constant threat and high daytime temperatures," said a jawan.
He said jawans on active patrol have to go without potable water at times. "There is no surety we would get drinking water. Sometimes we have to drink water from the same pond that animals use to quench their thirst. The unhygienic living conditions are leading to diseases and many personnel are falling sick," he said.
"There is no pat on the back for a good job done but always some kind of harassment in the name of discipline," said a jawan.
While it is easy for politicians to issue war cries far from the battleground, those on the ground say they are ill-equipped to fight under the conditions they have to. "We are losing lives in a battle that can be sorted out. There are many ways in which our force can be better utilized," said the jawan.
