IIM Lucknow to study occupational stress and strain suffered by CRPF jawans; find solutions for work-life balance

The MoU underlines the necessity for having such an evidence-based study that, as per the DG, would lead to mental strengthening as well as domestic empowerment, besides other policy derivatives.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has announced that the experts from the institute will undertake a study to find solutions to the occupational “stress and strain” suffered by CRPF personnel that leads to extreme instances like suicides and breakdown of family support system. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between IIM Lucknow and CRPF on the subject of 'domestic empowerment'. 

Initially, a pilot project will be conducted by some chosen experts of the premier management institute at Central Reserve Police Force locations in and around Lucknow and this is expected to be followed by full-length research on the issue.

“Consequent to the report on this pilot project, a strategy will be formulated for fine-tuning the broad framework, under which a full-fledged research will be conducted, to evaluate and assess the responses and, accordingly, propose, configure and facilitate the way forward,” a CRPF spokesperson said in a statement.

About 3.25 lakh personnel strong force is the mainstay for anti-Naxal, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations apart from various law and order duties, and as per official estimates over 95 per cent of its strength remains on operational deployment at any given point of time. The force says these hard duties have led to consequent stress and strain among the personnel, which not only affects them but also their families.

“It is the first-of-its-kind study by an outside expert agency to study the first-hand impact on soldiers and their families owing to prolonged deployment in high-risk areas that are non-family stations and suggest further measures," the CRPF Director General A P Maheshwari said.

The MoU underlines the necessity for having such an evidence-based study that, as per the DG, would lead to mental strengthening as well as domestic empowerment, besides other policy derivatives.

“Ideally speaking, families of CRPF personnel should act as a safety valve, for release of pent-up emotions, and be a veritable pillar of support. The long separation from their respective families, due to families staying in their respective home towns further compounds the problem. Even if some personnel are keeping their families at stations where they are posted, invariably separation still occurs due to the nature of duties, which involve frequent movements, deployment among others,” the statement in the MoU stated.

Read More:

• IIM Lucknow Courses & Fees 2021
• IIM Lucknow Admission 2021: Process, Eligibility, Dates, Fee