Lok Sabha Question No. 3366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Schemes for Wellness of Police Personnel
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: M. VEERAPPA MOILY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3366

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1ST JANUARY, 2019/, PAUSHA 11, 1940 (SAKA) SCHEMES FOR WELLNESS OF POLICE PERSONNEL

3366.

DR. M. VEERAPPA MOILY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  exists  any  central  scheme  for  wellness  of  policemen's mental health and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether personnel from the lowest ranks of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)have access to the Central Government's employed counsellors and if so, the details of ratio of the personnel to counsellors;
- (c)  whether  States  have  schemes  to  help  policemen  of  ranks  lower  than inspector rank to recover from posttraumatic stress disorders developed while performing their duty and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Central  Government  has  any  data  on  suicides  committed  by policemen of ranks lower than the inspector rank for unidentified reasons and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- (a)  &  (c):  No,  Madam.  Further,  as  'Police'  is  a  State  subject  falling  in  List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administrations to take various measures for wellness of their police personnel.
- (b): In so far as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are concerned, various measures  are  taken  by  the  Central  Government  for  the  wellness  of  police personnel as per Annexure.

## LS.US.Q.NO.3366 FOR 01.01.2019

(d):  No  such  data  on  suicides  committed  by  police  personnel  of  ranks  lower than  the  Inspector  rank  for  unidentified  reasons  is  maintained  centrally. However, as per data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau, a total number of 165, 167 and 157 suicides were committed by police personnel in the States/UTs in the years 2014, 2015 & 2016, respectively. Further, in so far as CAPFs are concerned, 09 suicide cases out of 60 suicides committed by CAPFs  personnel were registered under unidentified reasons in various police stations of States/UTs in 2015.

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The following are the measures for the wellness of Police Personnel in CAPFs:-

## Central Reserve Police Force

Interviews and counselling of personnel, on their return from leave/reporting on transfer etc., are held by the concerned Coy Commander/Unit Commandant with a view to find out whether individual has any domestic problem and to help him/her in sorting out problems, if any, to the extent possible. Counselling is also done to personnel having post-traumatic disorders developed after occurrence of any major incident. Personnel requiring special treatment are referred to Composite Hospitals.  A  mobile  application  i.e.    Global  Mental  Health  Assessment Tool  is  in  practice  for  evaluation/screening  of  psychiatric  cases.  Each Unit has been provided Medical Officer and sufficient paramedical staff. Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research-sponsored  counselling  courses  are conducted. Field Officers are keeping a close watch on the activities and mental health of personnel under their command and encouraging them to  come  out  with  their  problems  so  that  the  same  can  be  sorted  out. Informal interactions of Officers with troops, participation in games and sports with them and inquiring about their family welfare during routine visits to Out-posts and lines etc., are conducted. Officers are instructed to encourage personnel to come out with their problems/grievances and also to ensure proper infrastructure for placing recreational activities for the benefit of troops.

## Border Security Force

Yoga training by qualified instructors has been started. Rest and Relief Policy has been introduced in order to ensure adequate rest and  relief. Provision  of  better  communication  facilities  at  places  of  deployment, particularly  in  remote  areas,  is  made.  Transparency  in  distribution  of duties is ensured to prevent resentment and discontent  amongst personnel.

## Central Industrial Security Force

Various stress management programmes are continuously conducted for personnel through various organizations. Training on Counselling Skills, Mentoring etc., is conducted in Training Programmes.

## Indo-Tibetan Border Police

Various steps taken in this regard include timely leave to troops, medical facilities  at  BOPs/BHQ  and  separate  families  accommodations  among others. While personal problems are looked into by senior officers, efforts are made to rotate troops periodically from Extreme Hard Area/Hard Area to soft Areas. Sports, Yoga, Spiritual classes, Cultural activities etc., are conducted/held frequently at Unit level.

## Sashastra Seema Bal

Personnel deployed in units/places involving hardship are given rest on regular intervals.

## Assam Rifles

Several  steps  such  as  Inter-Personnel  Interaction,  Regular  leave  and welfare measures, Family Accommodation,  Improvement  of    living conditions, Buddy system, Grievance Mechanism etc., are undertaken to reduce stress amongst the Police Personnel.

2. Besides  above,  60  days  Earned  leave,  15  days  Casual  Leave, Paternity/Maternity Leave, Medical Leave etc., are admissible to all the personnel  of  CAPFs  at  the  field  level.  They  are  also  granted  leave  at regular intervals as per their requirement liberally.

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