Reflecting the sentiments of jawans that have recently come to light through a series of social media messages starting with BSF trooper Tej Bahadur's video on poor food quality going viral, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has slammed the Centre for its insensitive approach towards the personnel of central armed police forces (CAPFs).
In a latest report on Border Security: Capacity Building and Institutions, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs headed by former home minister P Chidambaram expressed "deep anguish" over the neglect of basic necessities to the jawans, including uninterrupted six-hour sleep after doing 16-18 hours of duty in a day.
"The Committee is anguished to observe that the flawed system leaves grossly insufficient time for jawans to get decent sleep. The Committee is concerned to note that due to shortage of manpower, jawans are forced to perform 16-18 hours of duty in a day," said the report asking BSF to revise its duty hour system to ensure at least one gap of 8 to 10 hours between two consecutive shifts by creating six shifts of four hours each during a 24 hours cycle.
Going deeper into the life of jawans posted at the remote border outposts (BOP), where they have to walk for miles from their duty location to the BOP, the report has asked the BSF to procure sufficient number of bicycles.
Paying special attention to the BSF jawans who are posted in remote areas, the Committee 'strongly' recommended subsidised call rates on all 135 locations having satellite phone transmitters.
