New Delhi: Left wing extremism is the biggest threat to our internal security as the Prime Minister himself has said. But how exactly are we treating the families of those people who die fighting Left extremists? Here's a report.
As the CRPF prepares for a fresh offensive against the Maoists in Lalgarh, Shyam Bihari and his wife continue to fight an old battle.
The couple's son, Umeshwar ,a CRPF jawan, was killed four years ago as Maoist blew up a mine-proof vehicle in Chhattisgarh. Promises of compensation were promptly made, and some amount was paid, but that went to Umeshwar's wife.
The parents received none, and whatever they could get was denied.
"I met the person in-charge of pensions. He wanted a bribe of Rs 50,000. I can't afford it," said Umeshwar's father Shyam Behari.
The clerk asked for bribe he said the Central government had given Rs 15 lakh, CRPF Rs 12 lakh, and Bihar government Rs 8 lakh, so the father should pay him something, and will then get his work done.
Shyam Behari and his wife have been doing the rounds of government offices, the CRPF group centre and the battalion headquaters without any result.
Even then they want a little help from the government so that their younger son can join the CRPF.
Now they are in Delhi to petition the Home Ministry, but without any luck so far.
As Shyam Behari makes endless rounds of the Home Ministry corridors, his quest is perhaps an indication of the state of governance in our country. The government needs to wake up, and wake up fast if it wants people for the forces.