The force was meant to create 50,000 jobs for Gujarat youths and provide security for industry and assist police. It was set up in July-August 1997 on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and 7,000 unemployed youths were enrolled in it.

However, only 2,800 of them were trained. They were taught to protect premier industrial houses and businesses, and to assist police during law and order crises. GISF was also to provide guards to private industries and other states for payment.

All that was when the Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) was in power. But the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government doesn't seem interested in the force. This may be because of the BJP's resentment for anything done by the RJP. When asked about the force, ministers and Government officials pass the buck.

Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said,"The force comes under the industries department." But Industries secretary A K Jyoti said, "Though my department is involved, officials of the Home department have the GISF reins in their hand."

The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is also involved, but its managing director, Ravi Saxena, said, "The details are with the home secretary."

Former chief minister Vaghela said, "We had planned to create 50,000 jobs in the State in five years under an employment scheme and my Government was determined to create 5 lakh jobs." But whatever the RJP Government had planned or implemented was cancelled or changed by the BJP Government, regardless of whether it was good for the people, he alleged.

Vaghela said 2,800 youths were trained for 90 days - in normal policing and in industrial security. Part of the training was in disaster management. They were given certificates of competence in shooting etc. The training was supervised by a brigadier. The recruits were paid Rs 2,000 as monthly stipend andwere given uniforms, food, medicines etc free.

GIDC had been involved in the project, and asked to contribute Rs 1 crore for the force. Saxena said, "GIDC provided some amount and is recovering it till date." He said, efforts were on to make the force viable. However, he pleaded ignorance about the exact amount loaned and recovered every month from GISF.

Home secretary K Nityanandam, however, claimed that the force was expanding fast but disclosed that only 310 of the total 2,800 were employed. Sources said, the remaining 2,490 are jobless. Nityanandam said that GISF was formed on the lines of CISF and the Government had no liabilities.

But Vaghela reiterated that the force was also meant to be a money-making body. "At GIDC estates alone, 50,000 guards are needed. The private sector needs many more. From just one recruit, the Government can be earning Rs 1,000 per day. Think of how much the State can earn with a 50,000-strong GISF."

He said that it was with this objective GISF was created. "TheGovernment name would lend credibility to the force. Unfortunately, the narrow-minded BJP is taking no interest in the concept."

But the recruits themselves are an unhappy lot. "We are paid like daily-wagers. How can you expect a guard to be honest on a half-empty stomach?" a recruit asked.

Jyoti said the recruits were demanding permanent jobs and more incentives due to the risk involved in the job. "But basically the GISF was an arrangement by the Government to promote and generate employment," he asserted.

On the other hand, the recruits argue that since the Government is earning from their service, part of the profits should be given to them.

Seeking permanent jobs, the recruits had recently submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister. They even went on strike. Their pleas fell on deaf ears. The BJP, however, is in no mood to hear of the problems of a Vaghela brainchild.