This story is from June 3, 2020

Chhattisgarh government launches 'Spandan' to curb stress levels of security personnel

Chhattisgarh government launches 'Spandan' to curb stress levels of security personnel
RAIPUR: Acting upon concerns of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel towards high stress levels of police and paramilitary forces, Chhattisgarh director general of police DM Awasthi has chalked out plan under a special campaign called 'Spandan' to prevent the force from depression and stress pushing them to take extreme step. Detailed guidelines in this regard have been issued to all SPs and commandants.

Incidents of fragging and suicide are common among security personnel, mainly among those posted in remote Maoist infested regions. The recent incident in Narayanpur reported an assistant constable fired at his three colleagues, killing two them on the spot and leaving another injured.
Soon after the incident, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel directed state’s Director General of Police DM Awasthi to take special measures to reduce stress level among police and paramilitary personnel, particularly those deployed in the naxal-hit areas.
DGP Awasthi issued an order to all SPs and commandants of security forces to strictly follow instructions under 'Spandan' campaign as a measure to curb suicides and fratricide.
For the security forces, DGP Awasthi asked the commandants to visit camps to meet jawans atleast once a month and stay for a night to speak to all in detail. In case of grievances, commandant will resolve matters.
Awasthi asked officials to conduct parade at police grounds on Fridays and following the social distancing and is to be followed by all employees in in headquarters as well. Even in case the attendance is low, the parade is a mandatory exercise to follow and it applies to all police station in charge to lead the show with their teams.

"Organize a counselling session to address grievance of personnel on one on one basis on mandatory basis and has to be followed by yoga classes. Officials can seek help from yoga experts to conduct classes and further ensure to provide medications and treatment to officers found depressed as per teh advise of psychiatrists and psychologists," the order issued by DGP states.
All personnel and cops should be encouraged in sports activities like football, volleyball and kabaddi atleast five days a week and play area should be prepared at police grounds and at camps.
DGP urged all SPs to make surprise visits to the police stations in respective districts and ensure wellbeing of all policemen or work on grievance redressal whenever required He asked inspector generals to visit and monitor armed forces camps too.
Each company unit must be prepped up with library, TV, music therapy and means of entertainment and the company commandant should ensure equal delegation of work so that none of the personnel feels sense of partiality.
Awasthi said that nearly 50 security personnel and cops have ended their lives in past two years and those in Maoist affected regions were victims of loneliness and emptiness, this was found when the analysis was done.
"It's mandatory to keep the jawans busy and engaged through special classes of weapon handling, outdoor activities, field craft tactics and others. Organizing 'bada khana' in a span of three months with involvement of all senior officers should be done," the order reads.
Awasthi informed that a special application was being prepared to address issues of police personnel and their families and it will be launched soon.
TOI in its report in December last year had urged quoting B K Ponwar Brigadier (retd) that psychological reconditioning of jawans by the commandants and senior officers of their battalion should be made a mandate.
"Psychological reconditioning and emotion control of troops is best given by the leadership and is very essential in such remote zones. The troops being far away from the commandants of their battalion get psychologically demotivated and it’s the job of senior officers and commandant to listen to their stories, worries and solve their issues. But the battalion headquarter locations are far away while it should be in close proximity and influence of commandant has to be there in combat zones,” Brig Ponwar had said.
"Jawans in camps located in interior regions are usually not connected with their families due to absence of network, there’s no motivation and communication other than the jawans themselves present at camp. High level of motivation by officers is mandatory at such locations with maintenance of general awareness of combat zones. The troops and command shouldn’t feel detached amongst each other and have good communication else they fail to withstand the strain of battle zone,” Ponwar advised.
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About the Author
Rashmi Drolia

Rashmi is a Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Chhattisgarh. She covers Politics, Left Wing Extremism, Crime and Human Rights among other areas of news value.

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