Stung by the series of complaints aired by security personnel on social media highlighting the poor conditions at work, the government is now planning to develop a mobile app for Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) personnel so that the grievances are aired directly to officials and not through social media.
According to The Indian Express, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) believes that the move will save time for officials and as well as the jawans in complaint redressal.
The move comes a week after BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav grabbed headlines for sharing three videos on social media alleging poor quality of food being served to soldiers and also corruption in procuring logistics for them. After this, at least three more jawans have shared videos on social media alleging wrongdoings by their seniors.
While the BSF had expressed doubts on the claims of Yadav citing his past record, Army chief Bipin Rawat also warned forces from taking to social media to air their grievances, asking the personnel to address them at the appropriate forum.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is holding consultations to develop an app to cater to the 7.2 lakh CAPF constables, the report says.
The project is being conceived by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and will be available to constables for download, an official privy to the development said. It is also said that Home Minister Rajnath Singh has set a deadline of three months for completion of the project.
The BSF, however, has issued orders to all company commanders on field to strictly ensure that the force’s constables on duty do not carry cellphones.
The BSF said that a rule barring constables from carrying phones on duty exists already but was never strictly enforced, the Indian Express report said.
“Mobile phones were never allowed on duty, but company commanders overlooked personnel carrying phones as long (period of) duties on the border, (being) away from family, can increase stress levels. But the rules will be strictly enforced now,” a senior BSF officer told the daily.
In case, the BSF decides to strictly enforce the rule, the jawans can send their complaints when they are off duty, the report added.
