The state cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to raise three police battalions for three different areas in Bengal.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who made this announcement after the cabinet meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday, gave out the details.

“The Narayani Battalion will be set up in Cooch Behar (district) and the Gorkha Battalion would be set up for the hills. There will be another battalion for Jungle Mahal district whose name would be the Jungle Mahal Battalion,” the chief minister said.

“The process of creation of the battalions would be completed by January 31, 2021,” Mamata added.

Senior government officials said that each of the battalions would have 1,000 personnel.

A total of 3,000 personnel would be recruited to set up these three battalions.

The primary target of the ruling establishment, sources said, was to create jobs in all these three areas.

Lack of employment opportunities still remains a major issue in these areas.

A source said that it was being assumed that eligible youths hailing from these areas would get a chance to be recruited in the new battalions soon.

“Even at least 20 per cent of the local youths are selected in the battalions, the issue of local unemployment would be resolved to some extent,” said a source.