Army Dhruv advanced helicopter in Siachen post, a Jawan with cold protection gear can be seen

The sleeping bags have been a long-standing requirement of the paramilitary forces, especially the ITBP which is deployed in cold-climatic regions along the India-China border

NEW DELHI: All troops of the paramilitary forces will finally be getting sleeping bags, which will not only make their loads lighter by around half a kg, but also provide better protection from the cold, said government officials.

These sleeping bags have been a long-standing requirement of the paramilitary forces, especially the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) which is deployed in cold-climatic regions along the India-China border. Until now, sleeping bags were given only to those troops who are deployed above certain high altitudes. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last year gave its approval for procurement of the bags for troops who are posted below these altitudes as well. Their procurement has begun, explained officials.

A MHA letter addressed to the ITBP Director General on July 10 last year approves the proposal of the Central Armed Police Forces, also known as paramilitary forces, for light-weight sleeping bags for troops deployed below 9,000 feet in the North-East and 6,000 feet in other areas. The bags costing about Rs 20.4 crore would not only be for the ITBP, but also for the Assam Rifles, Border Security Forces (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). However, it will be in lieu of one of the two blankets issued to such troops. The bags- each costing about Rs 1100- will be issued to them as part of their kit. It is expected to last for around eight years.

The sleeping bags will be similar to the ones being used by the CRPF CoBRA commandos in the Maoist-affected areas. It will be as light as 650 grams. “This will definitely be lighter than the two blankets and a pillow, which each troop deployed in lower altitudes has to carry. It is portable and not cumbersome like the blankets. It can be used anywhere and will provide better protection from the cold,” said an official.

The sleeping bags are expected to benefit about 80 to 90 percent of troops. “This amounts to about 9.5 lakh personnel. The procurement has started and they are likely to have the new equipment in the next two to three years,” said another official.

However, the bags will not be for officers, because they receive a uniform allowance for buying such an item.

Separately, troops of the ITBP, BSF and SSB who are deployed at altitudes above 9,000 feet in the North-East and 6,000 feet in other areas are being already being issued sleeping bags and not blankets, unlike the troops deployed at lower altitudes for whom the new bags are being procured. “The government has extended this benefit to all troops of the paramilitary forces. It is a welcome step and much needed requirement,” said an official.