The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to propose granting of the status of "ex-servicemen" to lakhs of retired paramilitary personnel who render internal security duties across the country.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was the chief guest at the 73rd Raising Day celebrations of the CRPF at its centre in Kadarpur in Gurgaon, said he has decided to move this proposal in the Cabinet "soon".

"I will present a proposal to grant the status of ex-servicemen to paramilitary forces personnel and I am hopeful that a decision will be taken soon in this regard," Shinde said.

"Paramilitary personnel, like defence forces, put their life at stake in the line of duty and there is no problem in granting them this honour," he said, adding this has been a long-standing demand of the paramilitary personnel.

According to estimates, there are almost four-lakh retired paramilitary personnel in the country who superannuated from forces like Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Seema Suraksha Bal, Central Industrial Security Force and National Security Guards.

The combined present strength of these forces is around 8 lakh personnel.