Though the Central Armed Forces has been showing its capability to quickly adapt to various situational requirements there are many challenges that prevent its smooth functioning. Comment. (250 words)
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to seven security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Each of the seven has its own cadre of officers, but they are headed by officers of the Indian Police Service.
Issues in CAPF
- The training institutes for CAPF need to be upgraded.
- The Ministry of home affairs plan to provide financial support to CAPFs for modernisation in areas of arms, clothing, and equipment is time consuming.
- Overdepency of states on CAPF is a notable concern.
- Supply of equipment is not on time.
- The Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the year 2017 observed that personnel of the CAPFs have not been treated at par with the Armed Forces, in terms of pay and allowances.
Measures to overcome these issues
- the government should engage in negotiations with ordnance factories and manufacturers in the public or private sector, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of equipment and other infrastructure.
- States must develop their own systems, and augment their police forces by providing adequate training and equipment.
- cadre review of all the CAPFs should be carried out within a defined timeline.
CAPF services can be seen even in the remotest corners of the country. But there are many issues in CAPF that need to be addressed.