NEW DELHI: Paramilitary forces have lost more men to suicides than fighting Naxals in the past three years. Latest data from the home ministry shows that 368 personnel committed suicides since 2011. In the same period, 371 securitymen (including those from state police) died in Naxal violence which effectively means far lesser number of paramilitary personnel lost their life to Naxal violence.
Interestingly, the Army, which has a far greater strength compared to paramilitary forces, recorded only 265 suicides.
Sources said tough working conditions coupled with prolonged alienation from family leads many securitymen to desperate situations. Many fall prey to alcoholism which has a cascading effect on their finances as well as relations with the family, leading to suicides.
According to the home ministry data, CRPF, the largest force fighting Naxals, has recorded the highest number of suicides with 130 of its personnel taking their lives. BSF, which guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders apart from fighting Naxals, is a close second with 122 suicides.
While overall suicide numbers among all paramilitary personnel have remained almost steady through the years with around 110 suicides each year, 2014 could be worse if January figures indicate any trend. In the first month of the year alone, 15 personnel have committed suicides.
"Government often terms the suicides accruing due to personal reasons and family problems. But what needs to be looked at is how these family problems, financial difficulties or alcoholism arise," said a CRPF officer.
Sources said while Army personnel get a posting near their home after three years of border or war duties, it takes a paramilitary jawan nine years to get the same posting. The problem is accentuated by the fact that while there is a provision to provide 24% of the force accommodation at base headquarters, government as yet has been able to provide the facility to only 12%. The idea of the plan was to make sure that even if a jawan is fighting naxals in the jungles of Chhattisgarh, his family may stay in an accommodation in, say, Raipur and thus he can be close to it.
Suicides in paramilitary forces claim more lives than Naxals - The Times of India
Interestingly, the Army, which has a far greater strength compared to paramilitary forces, recorded only 265 suicides.
Sources said tough working conditions coupled with prolonged alienation from family leads many securitymen to desperate situations. Many fall prey to alcoholism which has a cascading effect on their finances as well as relations with the family, leading to suicides.
According to the home ministry data, CRPF, the largest force fighting Naxals, has recorded the highest number of suicides with 130 of its personnel taking their lives. BSF, which guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders apart from fighting Naxals, is a close second with 122 suicides.
While overall suicide numbers among all paramilitary personnel have remained almost steady through the years with around 110 suicides each year, 2014 could be worse if January figures indicate any trend. In the first month of the year alone, 15 personnel have committed suicides.
"Government often terms the suicides accruing due to personal reasons and family problems. But what needs to be looked at is how these family problems, financial difficulties or alcoholism arise," said a CRPF officer.
Sources said while Army personnel get a posting near their home after three years of border or war duties, it takes a paramilitary jawan nine years to get the same posting. The problem is accentuated by the fact that while there is a provision to provide 24% of the force accommodation at base headquarters, government as yet has been able to provide the facility to only 12%. The idea of the plan was to make sure that even if a jawan is fighting naxals in the jungles of Chhattisgarh, his family may stay in an accommodation in, say, Raipur and thus he can be close to it.
Suicides in paramilitary forces claim more lives than Naxals - The Times of India
