Question : Suicides in Para Military Forces

(a) whether of late the suicide rates and peer-killings are on the rise in the para military forces and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of suicides attempted and committed as well as peer-attacks and killings committed by the para military forces during the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any enquiry into the stress levels to which the members of these forces are subjected to;

(d) whether the Government has received numerous complaints directly and through social media with reference to the horrible working conditions as well as food rations etc. relating to the various wings of the para military forces engaged in battling extremists and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has any proposal to institute a high-level committee to examine the working and living conditions of the members of these forces and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b): Instances of suicides/ fratricides reported by CAPFs/AR during the last three years and current year as on 30.11.2018 are as under:-

Death due to Suicide : 410
Attempt to suicide : 116
Peer attacks & killings : 29

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L.S.US.Q.NO.3445 FOR 01.01.2019

(c): An enquiry is conducted in each case of fratricide/killing/firing at colleagues and suicide case. It has been observed that causes/ circumstances behind most of such cases are found to be generally personal and domestic problems like marital discord, personal enmity, mental illness, depression etc.

(d) & (e): In the past, a video tape was uploaded in social media by a BSF personnel regarding poor quality of food in BSF. CRPF had also reported two such complaints of poor quality of food with various other grievances. An enquiry into the allegation of poor quality of food and other grievances was got conducted and the complaints were found unsubstantiated. All the Forces have a robust grievance redressal mechanism at their end and they have been advised to ensure that the officers during their visit to posts, may check on the aspects of living conditions, clothing, food and equipment and they may also take initiative to get free and frank feedback of the personnel. It has been advised that senior officers may also partake the food prepared for the jawans and endorse a note on the quality/quantity of food in the inspection register. The Forces have also been advised to review their internal grievances redressal system and take proactive measures to redress the grievances.
SOPs on the working and living conditions of CAPFs/AR personnel are framed and reviewed by the forces to improve the working conditions. Some of the measures taken to improve the working conditions of CAPFs/AR personnel are given at Annexure-I.
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