NEW DELHI, Sep 20: Fratricidal killings, suicides, attrition and operational preparedness in paramilitary forces were discussed threadbare at a high-level meeting convened by the Home Ministry here today.
The meeting, chaired by Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh and attended by chiefs of paramilitary forces including CRPF and BSF, also reviewed the recruitment process for induction of constables and other ranks and steps to revamp it to reach out to the remote and Maoist affected areas and increase representation of minorities and women.
The high number of death in forces due to fratricidal killings and suicides and how to check such unnatural deaths, attrition of officers and jawans due to stress and how to motivate them to continue in their services were discussed in great length, sources said.
According to a Home Ministry figure, nearly 400 para-military men committed suicide or died in fratricide incidents since 2009, which is more than the number of para-military men killed in action fighting terrorists.
Altogether 375 men in the Indian Army committed suicides in last three years while the seven para-military forces together have reported 398 such deaths.
Home Ministry had attributed alcoholism and extra-marital affairs to such a high number of para-military men ending their lives.
328 paramilitary men have died fighting terrorists, insurgents and naxals since 2009. 44,000 paramilitary personnel have taken voluntary retirement or resigned from the forces in last three years.
Emphasis was also laid on the procurement process especially in the light of the second phase of Police Modernisation during the 12th Five Year Plan.
The plan presently envisages procurement of equipment worth about Rs 11,000 crore during the current Five Year Plan with yearly procurement being over Rs 2,000 crore.
“Creating a nationwide public awareness regarding the Central Armed Police Forces amongst the youth of the country and steps to showcase their achievements in the most difficult areas of deployment were also discussed. The meeting also provided a platform to each of the forces to show case their best practices in operational welfare and administration activities,” an official statement said. (PTI)
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