West Bengal Launches ‘Arjun Vahini’ With 200 Personnel for Disaster Response

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday inaugurated ‘Arjun Vahini’, a state-level special disaster response squad designed to strengthen the state’s ability to respond quickly during emergencies.

The force has begun operations with 200 personnel drawn from the State Sainik Board. The members are former Army personnel below the age of 40, while the state plans to bring Agniveers into the force in the future.

Designed for rapid disaster response

Modelled on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arjun Vahini is intended to provide trained manpower for the early stages of disasters and emergencies. The force will focus particularly on areas vulnerable to cyclones, floods, landslides and other major incidents.

Teams will operate across Kolkata, the hills and the Sundarbans, with deployments including Kolkata, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Gosaba and Kakdwip. The state has said modern equipment, logistics and infrastructure will be provided to strengthen the unit’s response capability.

Pay, insurance and future expansion

Members of the force, known as ‘Veers’, will receive a consolidated monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000. The commander, designated as ‘Veer Nayak’, will receive Rs 40,000. The honorarium will increase by around three per cent each year.

The government has also announced financial protection for personnel. In the event of death while on duty, the family will receive Rs 10 lakh, while Rs 5 lakh will be provided in cases of permanent disability or injury, according to the chief minister.

Agniveers to be brought in later

Adhikari said the state intends to recruit Agniveers as the force expands. The government has also indicated that Arjun Vahini will eventually be developed with greater manpower and more advanced technology, following the NDRF model.

The initiative comes as the state seeks to strengthen its disaster preparedness and early-response capacity, particularly in densely populated urban areas and regions exposed to cyclones, flooding and landslides.