The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has promoted 2,600 cooks and water carriers — the lowest rung of constabulary — for the first time in the country’s largest paramilitary force’s 85-year history, sources said on Thursday.

The personnel of the two specialised categories — cooks and water carriers — handle the extensive network of kitchens, canteens and similar administrative works for nearly 3.25 lakh men and women in the force, which was raised in 1939.

“The paramilitary force has sanctioned the promotion of 1,700 cooks and 900 water carriers from their constable designation to head constable. This has happened for the first time in the 85-year history of the CRPF,” a CRPF official said.

The cooks and water carriers have been part of the force since its establishment during the British
era. The force was originally known as the Crown Representative’s Police (CRP) and it adopted its current name when the CRPF Act was passed in 1949.

According to the official, these personnel used to retire at the same rank in which they were recruited, even after serving for about 30 to 35 years on average.

“The cooks and water carriers are an important part of the force as they keep the troops fed and nourished during combat. Each CRPF battalion has about 45 such personnel,” the CRPF official said.

The proposal to promote them was recently sent by the CRPF top brass to the Union home ministry, which approved it.

The 2,500 personnel, promoted as part of the order, were recruited between 1983 and 2004.

The CRPF, having a strength of about 3.25 lakh personnel, is the lead internal security combat unit and is posted in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-terror operations. Besides, the force is also deployed in combat theatres of Left-wing extremism and anti-insurgency operations in the Northeast.