Central paramilitary force personnel are committing suicide. This number has increased rapidly in the last few years. The Home Ministry has given this information in the Rajya Sabha. In the last 5 years, 730 personnel have committed suicide.

Long duty hours, not getting enough time to sleep and spending less time with family are considered to be the main reasons for this. Due to this, many soldiers are resigning from their jobs or taking voluntary retirement.

55,000 left the service

According to the data presented by the Home Ministry in the Rajya Sabha, in the last 5 years, about 55,000 soldiers have given voluntary retirement or resignation. At the same time, the main reason behind suicide is considered to be personal problems.

A task force was formed to study this issue. It was found that about 80 percent of the soldiers who committed suicide had returned from leave.

Personal reasons are the main reason

According to the task force report, 'The main reasons for suicide among jawans are death of husband or wife, death of any family member, marital dispute or divorce, financial difficulties, lack of adequate educational opportunities for children.'

The Home Ministry said that 'to reduce this, a provision of 100 days leave in a year has been made so that the soldiers get an opportunity to spend more time with their families. So far 42,797 have also taken advantage of the facility.'

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha that till October this year alone, about 6302 jawans have spent 100 days with their families. This figure was 8,636 in 2023 and 7,864 in 2021.

The task force made suggestions

The task force has been asked to take necessary steps to prevent cases of suicide by soldiers. Some suggestions have also been given for this, which include constant communication by officers with the soldiers, regulating working hours and providing proper rest, improving the standard of living.

It has also been observed that cases of suicide are less among women soldiers as compared to men soldiers. It is believed that men are afraid to share their problems for fear of being ridiculed and due to this, thoughts like suicide start arising in them.

The task force has appealed for a transparent system for leaves. It has also said that not getting promotion on time also lowers the morale of the soldiers. Therefore, there is a need to improve the promotion policy.