New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on October 24 announced that a "High Altitude" medal would be given to jawans showing courage in extreme hostile weather conditions in the Himalayan region.

The government has received a proposal of giving this medal keeping in mind Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel who have to serve in high altitude areas only, Advani said in his speech at the 42nd raising day celebration of ITBP.

He said government would also soon announce formation of a field unit of ITBP as troops from this force always have to serve in difficult conditions.

"In other paramilitary forces, a jawan is given an easy posting in the field after serving in difficult terrain. But with ITBP, no such option is available as they do not have a field unit," he said, adding formation of the field unit would give the jawans of the force some relaxation before they move on to another high altitude terrain.

The Deputy Prime Minister said some more proposals for the betterment of the jawans of ITBP had been cleared by the Home Ministry and were awaiting the final nod from Finance Ministry.

Earlier, Advani presented 31 medals to officers and jawans of ITBP who had shown exemplary courage while fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Among others present at the function were ITBP Director General R C Aggarwal, Ministers of State for Home Haren Pathak and Swamy Chinmayanand and heads of several Central police organisations.

PTI