Psychiatrists to be appointed in hospitals of para-military forces

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Amid increasing incidence of stress-related crimes in the Central Para-military (CPFs) forces, the Union Home Ministry has decided to provide psychiatrists in all composite hospitals of CPFs with 50 beds or more.

Ministry sources told UNI here today that the decision was taken in the context of assessment of the reasons leading to suicides, self-shooting and shooting of colleagues and other stress-related incidents indulged in by the personnel of para-military forces.

A high-level meeting held the other day in the ministry had decided in favour of introducing psychiatric evaluation, counselling and close monitoring of personnel with disturbed emotions.

Sources said one psychiatric would be posted against one of the posts of specialist doctors.

To begin with, the scheme would be introduced in 39 composite hospitals of the Central Paramilitary forces. Personnel from all the CPFs could get treatment from the Composite hospitals, no matter whether it is managed by the particular force to which he belongs.

Out of the 39 composite hospitals where the scheme is being implemented, the CRPF is managing 21, followed by BSF (ten), SSB - three, ITBP-two and NSG-1.

The decision seems to have been taken in the immediate context of last week's incident in which a constable had shot dead five of his colleagues who allegedly tried to sexually harass him.

UNI