NEW DELHI: Tough working conditions and career stagnation is forcing officers of paramilitary forces to quit in large numbers. In the past one year, the forces have seen an alarming increase in the number of officers resigning within 4-5 years of service. A total of 80 officers have resigned in forces such as CRPF, BSF, CISF and ITBP in 2013.
This is 30% more than the figures for 2012.
Until now, only high rate of voluntary retirement of jawans in the lower ranks had remained a concern for the forces. In that area too, however, 2013 has turned out to be one of the worst with around 8,500 jawans leaving the four forces (even as figures for SSB and Assam Rifles are not included).
What's more worrying is that many officers have run away from the middle of their training for greener pastures in the private sector or elsewhere. Only recently, 19 officers of CRPF quit even as their training for induction in the force was on. As many as 11 others resigned within five years of service. CRPF, which is the principal force fighting Naxals in the inhospitable jungles of central and east India, alone has seen 46 resignations, almost double compared to last year.
To make matters worse, while voluntary retirement among officers has been decreasing, resignations are increasing. While 57 officers took VRS in 2012, only 53 chose it in 2013. Conversely, while 57 officers resigned in 2012, 80 have resigned this year. The government often says voluntary retirement is not a correct reflection of attrition due to tough working conditions as the person has spent 20 years in service.
Sources said the high rate of attrition among officers was due to career stagnation and lack of pay parity apart from tough working conditions on the borders or Naxalite areas. Promotion in paramilitary forces is vacancy based and salary hikes are linked to promotions.
Given that top posts are generally occupied by IPS officers and vacancies are less, most paramilitary officers retire by the time they reach the post of commandant with the lucky ones becoming DIG or IG. The system not only deprives officers of promotion but also of salary hikes. "The way things are, in the next few years, officers would start retiring at assistant commandant level, the rank at which they enter the service," said an officer.
While officers have gone to court to demand what they call non-functional upgradation (meaning: if you can't give time-bound promotion, give us time-bound salary hike). Home ministry, however, has opposed the idea on the ground that it would disturb command structure if officers of two different ranks had the same salary — an argument strongly refuted by force personnel who say command culture is not based on salary but rank.
Home ministry officials also refused to attribute the attrition to tough working conditions. "Forces are being given all facilities possible, more than one could ask for. They should not compare their perks with the Army. Both are different kind of formations," said a senior MHA official.
This is 30% more than the figures for 2012.
Until now, only high rate of voluntary retirement of jawans in the lower ranks had remained a concern for the forces. In that area too, however, 2013 has turned out to be one of the worst with around 8,500 jawans leaving the four forces (even as figures for SSB and Assam Rifles are not included).
What's more worrying is that many officers have run away from the middle of their training for greener pastures in the private sector or elsewhere. Only recently, 19 officers of CRPF quit even as their training for induction in the force was on. As many as 11 others resigned within five years of service. CRPF, which is the principal force fighting Naxals in the inhospitable jungles of central and east India, alone has seen 46 resignations, almost double compared to last year.
To make matters worse, while voluntary retirement among officers has been decreasing, resignations are increasing. While 57 officers took VRS in 2012, only 53 chose it in 2013. Conversely, while 57 officers resigned in 2012, 80 have resigned this year. The government often says voluntary retirement is not a correct reflection of attrition due to tough working conditions as the person has spent 20 years in service.
Sources said the high rate of attrition among officers was due to career stagnation and lack of pay parity apart from tough working conditions on the borders or Naxalite areas. Promotion in paramilitary forces is vacancy based and salary hikes are linked to promotions.
Given that top posts are generally occupied by IPS officers and vacancies are less, most paramilitary officers retire by the time they reach the post of commandant with the lucky ones becoming DIG or IG. The system not only deprives officers of promotion but also of salary hikes. "The way things are, in the next few years, officers would start retiring at assistant commandant level, the rank at which they enter the service," said an officer.
While officers have gone to court to demand what they call non-functional upgradation (meaning: if you can't give time-bound promotion, give us time-bound salary hike). Home ministry, however, has opposed the idea on the ground that it would disturb command structure if officers of two different ranks had the same salary — an argument strongly refuted by force personnel who say command culture is not based on salary but rank.
Home ministry officials also refused to attribute the attrition to tough working conditions. "Forces are being given all facilities possible, more than one could ask for. They should not compare their perks with the Army. Both are different kind of formations," said a senior MHA official.
