West Bengal Civil Emergency Force (WBCEF)

 1.   INTRODUCTION : West Bengal Civil Emergency Force was raised in February, 1967 and stationed at Howrah Maidan Camp. The 2^nd Coy.of the Force was raised in November, 1968 and was stationed at Belur Housing Estate.

 2.  The sanctioned strength of WBCEF is 558 posts, comprising of 1 Commandant, 1 Dy. Commandant, 1 Medical Officer, 2 Company Commanders, 3Asstt. Coy.Commanders, 30 Platoon Commanders, 2 Habilder Majors, 52 Section Commanders, 48 Sub Section Commanders, 396 Agragamies, 2 Despatch Riders, 4 Barbars, 4 Dhobies and 12 Sweepers.

                This force was drafted from amongst the ex-members of Army, Navy, National Cadet Corps and West Bengal National Volunteer Force. After recruitment , they have been trained in First-aid, Rescue, Fire-fighting, Swimming, R/T Operation and boats & OBMs operation. A few batches have been trained in Motor Driving as well.

                WBCEF personnel are being in the following main types of duty in times of Govt. requirement :-

a)      Flood Rescue and Relief duty.

b)      Fire Fighting duty under supervision of WBFS.

c)       Hospital duty at different hospitals of Kolkata under            supervision of District Medical Officers.

d)      Kolkata Corporation duty.

e)      Kolkata post duty

f)       Bengal Thermal Plant duty

g)      R/T transmission and operation duty under supervision       of Irrigation Deptt.

Nature of duty : WBCEF personnel were deployed in 1982 at Orissa for flood rescue duties. They were also deployed in the State of Assam in 1983 to 1987 for rendering service in connection with flood relief.

        The HQrs. of this unit was shifted in January,1991 from Howrah Maidan Camp to 106, Carrie Road, Amtala Camp, Howrah-3. From the very beginning, the Commandant of then MCEF, Kolkata worked as part-time Commandant of WBCEF. The Commandants then were IPS Officer/Ex-Army Major. With the winding up of MCEF, Kolkata, WBCEF is having no Commandant since later part of 1990. Since then, this Force having a strength of 558 men & Officers is being led by the unit Medical Officer temporarily.

ORGANISATION AT A GLANCE

COMMANDANT

DY. COMMANDANT

MEDICAL OFFICER

ASST. COY.COMMANDER(HC)

PF CLERK( PL COMDR.)  PL. COMDR. CLERK    PL. COMDR. CLERK      PL. COMDR. TYPIST

CUM CASHIER        FOR ESTABLISHMENT.

Strength of HQrs. is =12

Under the command and control of the Commandant WBCEF has 2 Coy. one at Howrah and the other at Belur both are having a strength of 273 heads and the total strength of the Organisation is 558.

Strength of each Coy.is as follows :

COY. COMMANDER                                : 1

ASST. COY COMMANDER(GD)             : 1

COY. HAVILDER MAJOR                       : 1

PLATOON COMDR.(GD)                         : 6

PLATOON COMDR.(OTHERS)              : 5

SEC. COMDR.(GD)                                    : 12

SEC. COMDR.(OTHERS)                          :14

 SUB SEC. COMDR.                                   : 24

AGRAGAMI                                                : 192

AGR.(ORDERLY)                                       : 6

DESPATCH RIDER                                    : 1

BARBAR                                                       : 2

DHOBI                                                          : 2

SWEEPER                                                    : 6

Total of which is                 =                       273