West Bengal Announces 20% Quota for Agniveers, Plans ‘Arjun Bahini’ Disaster Response Force

Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Sunday announced a 20 per cent reservation for Agniveers in recruitment to the Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Department, Police and Disaster Management Department.

Alongside the reservation, the state government is preparing to launch a new disaster-response force named ‘Arjun Bahini’, which will recruit Agniveers to respond to emergencies and carry out rescue operations.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the new force is expected to become operational in September. So far, 200 personnel have been selected through the Sainik Board. Of them, 100 will be deployed in Kolkata, while 50 each will be stationed in the hills and Sagar.

The Chief Minister said the force would be modelled on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and equipped with modern technology to strengthen emergency response and speed up rescue operations in disaster-hit areas.

The initiative comes in the wake of recent incidents highlighting the need for faster and better-equipped disaster response mechanisms. Adhikari referred to the recent collapse of an under-construction warehouse shed at Taratala as an example of the challenges faced during emergency situations.

The state government expects the recruitment of Agniveers into the proposed force to strengthen its disaster-management capabilities while providing trained personnel with opportunities in key government services.

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