Recruitment of Women in Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles: Action Taken Report

Recruitment of Women in Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles: Action Taken Report on Parliamentary Committee Recommendation

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA
RAJYA SABHA
DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS
TWO HUNDRED FORTIETH REPORT

ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS/ OBSERVATIONS CONTAINED IN THE TWO HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHTH REPORT ON DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2022-23) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(Presented to Rajya Sabha on 13th December, 2022)
(Laid on the Table of Lok Sabha on 13th December, 2022)

Recruitment of Women in Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles

Recommendations/Observations in respect of which replies of the Government have not been accepted by the Committee

Observation/Recommendation

3.6.5 The Committee observes that in 2016, it was decided by Government to reserve 33% posts at Constable level for being filled by women in CRPF and CISF to begin with and 14- 15% posts at Constable level in border guarding forces i.e. BSF, SSB & ITBP. The Committee is disappointed to note that women constitute only 3.68% of the total strength of CAPFs. The Committee recommends that MHA should take concrete steps to increase the representation of women in CAPFs. Phase-wise recruitment drives for women may be conducted on fast track, particularly, in CISF and CRPF. The Committee further recommends that steps should be taken to create a conducive environment in the border outposts by creating separate arrangements, so that the women are motivated to join security forces.

(Para 4.3.11 ibid)

Action Taken

3.6.6 The following steps have inter alia been taken to encourage recruitment of Women in Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles:

(i) Wide publicity is being given to the recruitment notification through print/electronic media. 

(ii) Women candidates are exempted from payment of application fee.

(iii) Relaxations in Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for all women candidates in comparison to Male candidates.

(iv) Facilities already available under the Central Government like Maternity Leave, Child Care Leave, etc. are also applicable to women personnel.

(v) One female member is detailed as member of the board for making recruitment of women candidates.

(vi) Crèches and Day Care Centers have been provided by the CAPFs to women employees.

(vii) Committees have been constituted at all levels to check sexual harassment and to expeditiously deal with the complaints of women personnel.

(viii) Women personnel are given equal opportunity in their career progression i.e. promotion, seniority, etc. at par with their male counterparts.

3.6.7 Further, a women candidate pregnant of 12 weeks standing or over is declared temporarily unfit and her appointment is held in abeyance until the confinement is over. She is re-examined for Physical Efficiency Test (PET), six weeks after the date of confinement. If found fit, she is appointed to the post and allowed the benefit of seniority in accordance with the rules.

Further Recommendation/Observation

3.6.8 The Committee notes the efforts of the Ministry that have been initiated to encourage the recruitment of women in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles. However, despite the efforts of the Ministry, the strength of women personnel is abysmally low. The Committee, therefore, recommends that MHA strive to identify the factors preventing women from joining the forces and come up with practical solutions to encourage their participation. One such solution could be posting women personnel particularly in the CISF and CRPF, near their hometowns, which would serve as an incentive for them to join these forces and in turn increase the participation of women in these forces as envisaged by the Government.