NDRF to raise two more battalions soon: DG

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will raise two more battalions to strengthen its cadre in view of enormity of the task, its Director General O P Singh said today.
"Two more battalions will be raised from SSB soon in addition to existing 10 battalions raised from CRPF, CISF and other armed forces," Singh told reporters at the headquarters of 9th battalion at Bihta in Patna district.
The NDRF won accolades for rescuing more than 50,000 people during recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir and evacuating people living on the sea coast in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh during cyclone Phailin.
Singh, who has been named Director General of NDRF by the Union government 10 days ago, said that the Central government has accepted the proposal for recruitment of engineers, doctors, paramedics staff on contract basis for 3 to 5 years to overcome shortage of manpower in the force.

Earlier, they were recruited only at the time of disaster for a shorter period of time which attracted fewer people to join them.
He said to motivate personnel, the central government has also decided to provide "NDRF response medal" to personnel who completes three year in the dedicated disaster management force.
The NDRF DG stressed on specialised training and research for adding efficiency in their work.
"At present NDRF response time is 20 minute which is of international level," he said.