The number of suicide cases in the paramilitary forces has seen an alarming increase. Union Home Ministry on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that in the year 2019 alone 128 paramilitary jawans committed suicide for various reasons s ranging from mental trauma to personal issues. In 2018, 96 persons and in 2017, 121 persons committed suicide as per the answer given by the Union Home Ministry.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai was replying to BJP's MP Prataprao Patil Chiklikar's un-starred question in Lok saha on the case of suicides in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles. "Reduction of stress and improvement of working conditions of CAPFs and AR personnel is a constant endeavour of Ministry," said the Minister in response to a question as to what steps were taken in this context by the Government.
In a two-page reply, the Home Ministry has detailed the measures initiated to take care of the troopers in paramilitary forces. Rai said various measures have been taken to reduce stress and improve the working of these forces.
"Some of them are transparent policies pertaining to transfer and leave of CAPFs and AR (Assam Riffles) personnel, hospitalisation period due to injuries while on duty is treated as on duty; choice posting is considered to the extent possible after the personnel has served in hard area," he said.
"Other such steps include regular interaction of officers with troops to find out and redress their grievances, ensuring adequate rest and relief by regulating their duty hours, improving living conditions for troops, providing adequate recreational, entertainment, sports and communication facilities among other steps," he added.
The Government also claimed that series of measures have initiated to ensure adequate rest and regulating duty hours and improving living conditions and providing recreation and entertainment facilities. The Government also said measures to provide good accommodation with family, crèche facility also started providing in many remote areas.
"Facility for retention of government accommodation at the place of last posting (for keeping family) while posted in sensitive areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Maoist hit areas and North East," said Government detailing the welfare measures to the jawans including providing good career progression. Government also said it had tasked officers to interact with jawans on routine basis to identity and settle the problems of jawans.
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) comprise the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB apart from the Assam Rifles (AR) that works under the command of the Union home ministry.