The CAPFs are in urgent need of administrative reforms

R.C. Sharma

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are divided into two categories — border guarding and internal security. While both have their distinctive primary roles, border security forces have internal security as their secondary role. They are also tasked with other roles as deemed necessary by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on the advice of director generals (DGs) of police.

 Yet, the border security forces such as Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which also have a war-time role, are very different from internal security forces like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in terms of their primary roles and responsibilities, though they all have an almost identical command structure. Active field command at battalion level comprises section, platoon and company commanders. Active field command at middle level comprises deputy commandants, second-in-command and commandant. 

At a higher level, it includes deputy inspector generals and inspector generals. Higher command and leadership framework have a mix of Indian Police Service (IPS) and CAPF cadre officers with IPS officers directly holding higher command responsibilities without any service and experience of CAPF work and combat culture at any level. Consequently, they are unable to appreciate the difficulties, requirements and aspirations of junior leadership and men. Conceptual command at directional level refers to CAPF leadership structure responsible for policy making, strategising operationally and administratively to improve combat effectiveness through regular and consistent training, human resources effectiveness through long-term career and welfare centric policies. It is directional level command and leadership is responsible for providing inputs to the government concerning policy framework on training, combat, logistics and human resources and apprise it on problems and issues faced by CAPFs. 

This level comprises additional director generals, special director generals and director generals. Since it consists of IPS officers, there are limitations in understanding difficulties and needs of the field commanders. Hence, often an accurate and timely picture is not portrayed by them to the government for policy correction. This often leads to several issues ranging from duplicity of work, long duty hours, non-availability of quality time for self and family, thus causing stress, which in turn may lead to indiscipline, low medical categories (LMCs), voluntary retirements, accidental firing, injuries, suicides and fratricides.