West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari today inaugurated ‘Arjun Vahini’, a specialised disaster response squad, at Nabanna in Kolkata.
The 200-member force comprises Army personnel below the age of 40, recruited through the State Sainik Board. The unit has been formed on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force, or NDRF, to strengthen the state’s disaster management capabilities.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Adhikari said, the force will be deployed across disaster-prone regions, including the hills, the Sundarbans and Kolkata, particularly during cyclones and other emergencies.
The Chief Minister said, the state has received full support from the Centre and stressed the need for adequate manpower, logistics and infrastructure for effective disaster management.
Personnel of ‘Arjun Vahini’ will receive a consolidated monthly pay of 25 thousand rupees, while the commander, designated as ‘Veer Nayak’, will receive 40 thousand rupees. They will also get an annual increment of around three per cent.
The government will provide insurance cover of 10 lakh rupees in case of death, and 5 lakh rupees for disability or injury.
