With “sleep deprivation” due to hard duties remaining a continuous irritant for the troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) , the paramilitary has launched a string of yoga classes and stress management sessions for its men and women in combat.
The force has tied up with the renowned spiritual and social organisation ‘Brahma Kumaris’ for conducting 30 special workshops for its personnel based in border camps in the country.
“Sleep deprivation is a problem that we are encountering in the force. There have also been some instances when we have seen that the anxiety level amongst our troops have gone up. These are problems that need to be addressed and hence we have planned special yoga and stress management sessions for the force personnel,” BSF chief D.K. Pathak told PTI .
The Director General said the special yoga and spiritual counselling sessions will also train some of the master trainers in the force, along with troopers, who would further impart the skills in the jawans and officers at other levels.
As per the blueprint of the new plan, these sessions will be undertaken across the country in order to de-stress the jawans and officers of the force who serve in some of the most inhospitable terrains of the country.
A recent report prepared on the state-of-affairs of the force had said that the stressful job of manning sensitive Indian borders in difficult terrain round-the-clock is forcing BSF personnel to lead a “nomadic” life with a state of continuous sleep deprivation.
A senior official said with the increasing usage of mobile phones, the BSF has also asked it commanders to make sure that troops undertaking patrols or sensitive duties do not take the gadget with themselves.
“As compared to earlier times, a problem at home is now quickly communicated to a jawan and then he undergoes stress when he or she thinks they are not able to help the situation. The force is also undertaking measures to de-stress troops and counsel them towards motivation,” the official said.
