Our CRPF men work 12-14 hours a day: House panel

New Delhi: A joint parliamentary committee has expressed dismay over long working hours of CRPF personnel, who cannot even avail holidays and weekly offs, saying such a situation is neither healthy nor sustainable. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress leader P Chidambaram, also said that the accommodation provided by state governments to paramilitary forces are sometimes unhygienic, insecure and poorly maintained, which affects the dignity, morale and motivation of the troops.

"The committee is dismayed to note that the CRPF personnel work for 12-14 hours a day and more than 80 per cent of CRPF personnel cannot avail holidays and Sundays," it said in a report submitted to Rajya Sabha. The panel said that it understands that the job of an armed force personnel is such that he or she has to be alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

However, working 12 to 14 hours daily with no scope for holidays and Sundays will result in psychological and physical consequences and affect their work, it said. The committee said that it is important to acknowledge that the working hours' regulation under Indian Labour Law stipulates a maximum of 48 hours per week.