CAPF Reforms

Description

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Context: According to data available with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in the last 10 years 1,205 CAPF personnel have died by suicide. There have been more than 25 incidents of fratricide reported in the forces since 2019.

Reasons behind such incidents:

harsh working conditions coupled with family issues
Domestic problems, illness and financial problems
unavailability of leave when required.

Measures adopted:

In 2019, Home Minister had said that leaves available to CAPF personnel would be increased to 100 days from the existing 75 days. This is yet to be implemented.
A task force was set up in October 2021 to identify relevant risk factors as well as relevant risk groups and suggest remedial measures for prevention of suicides in CAPFs and Assam Rifles (AR) personnel.
Improvement in working conditions of (personnel from) CAPFs, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard (NSG) is a constant endeavour and government is taking many steps to take care of mental health of CAPF personnel.
To reduce the stress level of CAPFs, ‘Art of Living’ courses are being conducted for CAPFs personnel which have positive impacts on the force.
Government had ushered in “transparent policies pertaining to transfer and leave of CAPFs”, and “choice posting is considered to the extent possible after the personnel served in hard area.”
Hospitalisation period due to injuries while on duty is treated as on-duty even as regular interaction of officers with troops to find out and redress their grievances is organised.
Government is ensuring adequate rest and relief by regulating their duty hours, improving living conditions for troops, providing adequate recreational/entertainment, sports, communication facilities, etc,
Facility of retention of government accommodation at the place of last posting (for keeping the family) while posted in the Northeast, J&K and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas (except state capitals), providing better medical facilities as well as organising talks with specialists to address their personal and psychological concerns and organising meditation and yoga routinely for better stress management were some other measures.
Ministry is also providing adequate compensation to the troops deployed in difficult areas.
Recently, Government has approved the scheme - Modernisation Plan-IV for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

Modernisation Plan-IV:

Total financial outlay- Rs.1,523 crore.
Implemented by: Ministry of Home Affairs
Aim:to equip CAPFs with modern state-of-the-art weapons and equipment as per their operational requirement, keeping in view their deployment pattern in different theatres. Upgraded IT solutions to improve overall operational efficiency/preparedness, which will positively impact the internal security scenario in the country.
Timeline:The Modernisation Plan-IV will run from 2022 to 31.03.2026.
Significance: Willbolster the Government’s ability to address the challenges being faced on the International Border/LoC/LAC as well as in the different theatres, such as areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and insurgency affected North Eastern States.

About Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs):

It refers to uniform nomenclature of seven central armed police organisationsof the India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- National Security Guard (NSG) and
- Special Protection Group (SPG)
Theirrole is to defend the national interest mainly against the internal threats.
BSF, ITBP, SSBprimary role is border guarding.
- The primary role of theBorder Security Force is to guard the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, it is deployed both on the international border and the LOC.
- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is deployed for guarding duties on theIndo-China border from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The objective of theSashastra Seema Bal is to guard the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
CISFguarding Security of sensitive establishments
CRPF and NSG: Assisting Police to tackle Law & Order, Counter-Terrorist Operations, Counter Naxal Operations.
All CAPFs are involved in assisting Police in Law & Order situations and also Army in Counter-Terrorist Operations. BSF & CRPF have assisted the army during external aggression in the past.