Paramilitary has only 6.9 per cent minorities

Recruitment of minorities in paramilitary forces is on the decline in the past few years, with absorption rate slumping to a low of 3.44 per cent in 2011.

Of the 3.69 lakh personnel recruited between 2004 and 2011 in the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and the Assam Rifles, only 25,702 or 6.96 per cent, were from the minority communities. While 65,075 were recruited in 2011 by the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and the Assam Rifles, fresh government data shows that only 2,239 personnel from minority communities were selected for the job in that year. This was the lowest number between 2004 and 2011 when the Congress-led UPA was in power.

The numbers for 2011 could increase as the Staff Selection Commission has not given minority representation for recruitment of 20,265 constables for the BSF “despite request” from Union Home Ministry. If this figure is added, the recruitment figures will rise to 85,340, the highest between 2004 and 2011. However, officials said even if the figures on minority representation arrive, it is unlikely to alter the percentage.

Among the forces, the BSF and the Assam Rifles have better representation of minorities. The Assam Rifles recruitment of minorities ranged between 5.72 per cent in 2011 and 32.85 per cent in 2006 and in most of the years, it hovered around 30 per cent. The BSF figure was in the range of 7.89 per cent and 11.46 per cent.

The Union Home Ministry data, presented in Parliament recently, showed that the highest percentage of recruitment from minorities was in 2005. In that year, 9.12 per cent or 4,158 of the 45,611 personnel were from the minority communities.

In 2004, when the UPA assumed power, the paramilitary forces recruited 43,075 personnel out of which 6.79 per cent or 2,926 were from the minorities. After an increase in 2005, it showed a slight decrease in 2006 and 2007 at 8.57 per cent and 8.16 per cent. In 2008, it marginally rose to 8.37 per cent. From 2009, however, there was a continuous decline in the rate of recruitment though the number of recruits increased.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said that the government has taken efforts to increase the representation of minorities in paramilitary forces. He said a minority member is included in the selection board for recruitment rallies. A copy of each recruitment advertisement is also sent to the Minority Commission for its wide publicity amongst minority communities, he said.