Nation honours 1,057 security, emergency service personnel on I-Day
New Delhi, August 14
As many as 1,057 personnel from the Police, Fire, Home Guard and Civil Defence, and Correctional Services have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of the upcoming Independence Day, the Centre said on Friday.
A total of 301 Medal for Gallantry (GM) awards have been announced, including 272 for police personnel and 29 for fire service personnel.
The medals recognise conspicuous acts of bravery in saving lives and property, preventing crime or arresting criminals, with due consideration to the risks involved in the discharge of official duties.
Of the 301 gallantry awards, 197 have gone to personnel serving in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
Another 51 awards have been given to personnel for gallant actions in Jammu and Kashmir, while 12 were awarded for actions in the North-East. The remaining 41 awards went to personnel from other regions.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) emerged as the biggest recipient among the central paramilitary forces, securing 86 gallantry and service medals. These include 24 Gallantry Medals, five President's Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 57 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM).
According to officials, the CRPF's gallantry medals were earned for two counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and an anti-insurgency operation in Manipur, all conducted in 2024.
The Border Security Force (BSF) was the only other Central Armed Police Force to receive gallantry medals, with 20 awards. It also received 47 service medals.
In the service medal category, 92 personnel have been awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service. Of these, 83 went to police personnel, four to fire service personnel, three to Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel, and two to correctional service personnel. The PSM is awarded for a distinguished record of service.
Another 664 personnel received the Medal for Meritorious Service, which recognises valuable service marked by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.
Police personnel accounted for 606 of these awards, followed by 28 from the Fire Service, 18 from Civil Defence and Home Guard services, and 12 from Correctional Services.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the recognition, I wish we also focused on better equipment, mental health support, and fair wages for our police and fire services. Medals are nice, but our frontline workers need systemic improvements too. Respect to all 1,057 awardees though!
CRPF getting 86 medals is well-deserved. These brave men and women have been fighting on multiple fronts - from Kashmir to the Northeast. The counter-terrorist operations in 2024 must have been extremely challenging. Salute to their courage and dedication! 🙏
It's heartening to see all emergency services being recognised - not just police but also fire, civil defence, home guards, and correctional services. Every single one of them contributes to keeping society safe. Kudos to the government for this inclusive approach!
The numbers tell a story - 197 gallantry awards in LWE areas is a stark reminder that the insurgency problem is far from over. While we celebrate these heroes, we must also question why our security forces are still fighting an internal battle after so many decades. Development and dialogue need equal focus.
My father served in the BSF for 28 years, and seeing 20 gallantry medals for them makes me emotional. He never spoke much about his operations, but I know the sacrifices these families make. This recognition matters. Thank you to every single hero out there! 🌟
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