Over 55,000 voluntary retirements or resignations in CAPF in last 5 years; 730 personnel died by suicide

According to data placed by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, 47,891 personnel took voluntary retirement from 2020 to 2024 while 7,664 people resigned from the forces.

New Delhi: At least 55,555 personnel took voluntary retirement or resigned from seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including National Security Guard (NSG) and Assam Rifles (AR), between 2020 and 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs told Rajya Sabha.

According to data placed by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, 47,891 personnel took voluntary retirement during this period while 7,664 people resigned from the forces. Another 730 people died by suicide during the past five years, he said.

The details were provided in a written reply by Rai to questions posed by senior Congress MP Mukul Wasnik on December 4. The MHA identifies AR, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG and SSB as CAPFs.

The data showed that the total number of voluntary retirements and resignations had risen from 7,684 in 2020 to 12,013 in 2021 and 12,371 in 2022, the highest in the past five years.

In 2023, there were 12,302 voluntary retirements and 11,185 this year so far.

A break-up of data showed that there were 6,891 voluntary retirements in 2020 and it rose to 10,764 in 2021 and 11,211 the next year. However in 2023, it saw a slight decline to 10,274 and this year, it has touched 8,751.

When it comes to resignations, there were 793 in 2020 and it rose three times to 2,434 this year so far. In 2021, there were 1,249 resignations followed by 1,160and 2028 in 2022.

The data of suicide showed the highest was in 2023 when there were 157 incidents. There were 134 incidents this year so far while in 2020, it was 144 followed by 157 and 138 in the following years.

Rai said CAPFs generally have eight-hour shifts but it varies depending on operational exigencies.

“Necessary leave/training reserve is built in the structure of battalions so that the personnel get rest and leave. Measures have been taken to implement a transparent, rational and fair leave policy and to regulate duty hours to ensure adequate rest and leave. Improvement in working conditions/amenities and welfare of CAPFs…is a constant endeavor of the government,” he said.

He said choice posting is considered to the extent possible after the personnel has served in a hard area while hospitalisation period due to injuries while on duty is treated as on duty.

Identifying some of the measures taken to improve working conditions of personnel, he also said that regular interaction of officers with troops is organised to find out and redress their grievances.

To improve living conditions for troops, he said the forces are providing adequate recreations/entertainment, sports and communication facilities. Creche facility is also provided at various establishments to facilitate the female employees, he added.