Mental health, financial literacy programmes on CRPF agenda

“It was later decided that a centralised mental health care centre can be considered for CRPF by designating one of its base hospitals/ composite hospitals,” the DIG said in his letter sent a few days ago.

“All the sector headquarters have been asked to conduct awareness programmes on mental health with specification to psychological disorders, suicidal tendencies etc during basic in-service trainings and at all forums,” he said.

“It has been also advised to all the sector headquarters that financial awareness programmes for financial literacy and avoiding heavy loans/ debts will help force personnel to lead a secured life. Regular classes on social issues like changing social paradigm in joint family system, extramarital relations with remedial measures should be conducted at various levels by the sector headquarters,” he said.

“All the sector headquarters should make sure that every unit/ company of the CRPF should nominate a suitable member of the force as family liaison officer (FLO), a well-educated, well-mannered, and well-tempered person. He should have all the details of family background, character and antecedents of every individual jawan of his concerned unit/ company. The FLO will keep interacting with the family members of jawans, especially after their return from leave,” he said.

The personnel should be made aware of the need for women empowerment. They should make sure that their family members learn driving, net-banking, effective communication and finance management, which will resolve some of their burden, the DIG said.

In the three years from 2020-2022, 463 personnel died by suicide in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, of which the CRPF accounted for 154 deaths.

The Indian Express had reported earlier that discrimination among sub-groups, bullying at the workplace, fear of initiation of disciplinary or legal action, lack of communication between company commander and the personnel were some of the reasons cited by a task force set up to look into suicide and fratricide cases in the CAPFs.