Recent news highlights a novel initiative by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in India. The primary focus is to address the mental well-being of its personnel through an activity known as ‘Chaupal,’ a popular form of communal meeting in rural areas.
The Concept of Chaupal
Under this initiative, 18-20 CRPF personnel will gather outdoors once or twice every week, forming a circle while seated on chairs, possibly under a tree. It’s a planned activity that welcomes personnel from all rankings, dressed in civilian clothes. Crucially, commanders from companies, platoons, or sections are expected to participate in these group-sharing exercises actively.
Interactive Sessions with Senior Officials
One salient point of the Chaupal meetups is the direct interaction between ordinary personnel and senior officials. Through this dialog, commanding officers can understand the troopers’ difficulties and other potential stressors more accurately. While regular Yoga classes, daily exercises, counseling, and other remedial measures already exist in the system, the CRPF believes that additional steps are necessary to weed out the persistent mental fatigue and stress that the forces face.
The Gravity of Mental Health Issues in CRPF
The CRPF’s concern for mental health isn’t without basis. Records show that there have been over 100 cases of suicide in the largest paramilitary force in India from 2020 till September 2021. In fact, 2021 recorded the highest number of fratricides. To put this into perspective, the number of suicides among the CRPF were 38, 38, 43, and 60 in the years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.
Reasons Behind the High Suicide Rate in CRPF
Numerous factors contribute to this bleak state of affairs, such as domestic issues, financial problems, illness, sanctions on leave to the soldiers, and tough postings. This combination of personal and professional stressors often leads to tragic ends.
About Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
The CRPF was initially formed as the Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939, transforming into the Central Reserve Police Force on the 28th December 1949 following the enactment of the CRPF Act. Its mission is to maintain Rule of Law, Public Order, and Internal Security effectively and efficiently. The CRPF aims to Preserve National Integrity, Promote Social Harmony, and aid Development by upholding the supremacy of the Constitution. This makes it one of India’s premier Central Armed Police Forces, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs.