Guwahati, June 16: Dispur has adopted a take-it-or-leave-it policy vis-à-vis the proposed Assam Industrial Security Force (AISF).
Sources today said given the rising demand for “adequate and well-equipped security”, the Assam government is planning to raise the entire maintenance cost from the end-users of the two battalions, each of which is estimated to cost about Rs 20 crore annually.
With leading companies like ONGC, OIL, Coal India Limited, Neepco and NHPC expressing their willingness to pay for the services of the new force — which will be cheaper than the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) — Dispur is sure that the end-users will sign the memorandum of understanding. The cost of maintaining a regular police battalion is around Rs 43 crore and that of CISF Rs 58 crore annually.
Given Dispur’s firm stand and so as not to lose out on the security cover, the tea industry of Assam started negotiating with the government last week.
Sources in the chief minister’s office said the Indian Tea Association had sought lowering of the amount to be paid by its member gardens for the services of the AISF.
The Assam Tea Plantation Security Force (ATPSF) had become near-defunct because the tea industry was not in a position to pay for its upkeep.
The ATPSF is now giving way to the AISF. The suitable among the 2,200 ATPSF personnel have already been shortlisted for the 2,652-strong AISF and will undergo a six-month intensive training from August.
Around 88 personnel of the Assam Home Guards (Border Battalion) will also be absorbed in the proposed force along with regular personnel of Assam police.
It said it could bear only 25 per cent of the cost of maintaining the new force as there was a slump in the market and the estimated cost of maintenance was too steep for them to afford.
A source, however, said, “The government is unlikely to make any major concessions given the demand, at least not on the recurring costs. The end-users will have to pay the salary (around Rs 5,860 each), ration, pension and clothing among others. It is not that we will not ensure security of the tea gardens, but it will not be as effective as the AISF. It is no use maintaining a disgruntled force given our experience with the ATPSF.”
The sources said the association’s security-related anxiety was evident as it enquired about the pattern of deployment of the AISF personnel and withdrawal of the ATPSF.
The government plans to withdraw half of the 22 ATPSF personnel deployed in one garden for training. ATPSF personnel are still deployed in 111 member gardens of the Indian Tea Association.
