Union Home Ministry has convened a high-level meeting with the Directors General of the Central Paramilitary Forces on Monday to discuss the alarming rise in attrition of officers, including those appointed through the Union Public Service Commission.

The meeting, to be chaired by the Minister of State for Home, will discuss reasons for increasing rate of Voluntary Retirement Scheme and resignation cases amongst the paramilitary personnel.

In 2012, as many as 11 officers of the first batch of Directly Appointed Gazetted Officers (DAGO) have either quit or their resignation is under process. These officers were appointed in October 2005 and were selected by the UPSC and have paid the training cost of about Rs 5 lakh for seeking premature retirement.

The meet will also delve into the reasons for increasing cases of casualties, fratricide and suicides and the possible remedies. The issue of putting up in place a mechanism for coping up with grievances of personnel at all levels and steps for improvement will be discussed too. The agenda points of the meeting include a discussion on the tenure and transfer policies of the personnel and the need for modification besides career progression issues related to men and officers.

Other issues slated to be discussed include steps to be taken for increase in benefits being given to next of kin of deceased personnel, increasing number of court cases against force’s personnel and possible measures for reduction in the same. On the operational front, the officials of the ministry and the paramilitary forces will discuss the need for real-time GIS (Geographic Information System) solutions in paramilitary forces for operational effectiveness.

Another key point to be deliberated during the meet includes measures for enhancing the role of paramilitary forces in provisioning and procurement process of Union Home Ministry.

The meet will further deliberate upon the issue of using paramilitary forces to ascertain feedback regarding developmental activities being undertaken in the States under various Central Government Schemes.The paramilitary forces have advised the various branches including personnel, establishment, medical, welfare, administration, operations and provisioning and procurement to come up detailed analysis and facts related to the issues. The Centre has proposed to conduct special recruitment drive to fill vacancies in the Indian Police Service, and the cadre officers of the paramilitary forces would be eligible. It will further deplete the strength of the Assistant and Deputy Commandants who lead the force from the front.

The shortage of officers is presently being filled up through ad hoc basis by promoting inspectors and so far about 300 such promotions have been granted in CRPF alone.

Sources said lack of promotional avenues and absence of an organised service status are the key reasons why officers and men are quitting the forces to join public sector undertakings like banks. Stress adds on to the disenchantment of the personnel and better job option in the PSUs further drives the attrition rate in the forces, sources added.