HimVani
Shimla: The Central government has agreed to raise a new Indian Reserve Battalion for Himachal Pradesh. The battalion will create around 1,000 jobs in different categories, and a sum of Rs 12.75 crore has already been released for the purpose. Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had raised this demand with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil immediately after coming to power. The chief minister has announced that all posts in the battalion will be filled by 2010, and the force would be available to be deployed in any part of the country as and when required. The state government will have to bear yearly expenses of the battalion and also the expenditure for its infrastructure and expansion. According to sources, a special selection board will be constituted to complete the recruitment process.