Taking the lead ahead of corporate giants, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has moved to better work-life balance for its personnel, who guard some of India's most vital assets and infrastructure. 

The force recently unveiled a new organisational transfer and posting policy, which will be effective from December 31, to ensure a better work-life balance for over 98 per cent of its roughly 1.94 lakh workforce. 

“The policy aims to motivate force members with better work-life balance across their entire service period, by addressing their personal needs,” a senior CISF officer said.

Under it, personnel have been categorised into four groups, with those retiring within two years in the first category promised “choice or preference posting”. This will be followed by women staffers, then working married couples, with the rest in the fourth and final category.

The policy is primarily for non-gazetted officials between the ranks of constable and inspector, as grievances pertaining to work-life balance are “higher” among them, officials said.

“The policy is aimed to satisfy force members when it comes to their transfer, posting and place of work… without compromising on operational requirements,” a senior CISF officer said, adding that the new policy will replace the 2017 one. 

“It has been made after extensive consultations on the ground. We aim to make the CISF a future-ready force to cope with emerging security challenges with training and building expertise in various security domains,” the officer said, adding that the force’s leadership believes there is a profound shift in social norms and family dynamics, making work-life balance not only desirable but essential.

The officer said “more and more women” were joining the CISF and that “working couples” are increasing in the force, and hence, the change in policy.  

The officer added that special care “will be taken to ensure that the education of the children of the force personnel does not suffer, and transfer orders will be issued in such a time that the academic cycle of their wards does not get affected”.

He went on to add: “Choice-based posting in CISF has been made a rule. It was an exception earlier. Personnel who want to get a choice transfer or posting will have to opt for it.”

After 10 years of service “personnel will become eligible for choice posting”, the officer said, adding that jawans “will submit a transfer request to CISF headquarters, including a list of 10 preferred posting locations”. Headquarters will ensure they are transferred to one of these preferred locations, he added.

The period of non-choice posting for women “will be six years”, after which she can request a transfer to her husband’s location, the officer said, adding this provision applies even if the husband is employed outside CISF.

He also said “domain experts and personnel who are highly talented” would get preference in their choice posting due to their skills and demanding nature of work. Domain experts are employees adept in information technology, cyber security, data science, aviation security, anti-drone solutions, weapons and tactics, among others, he added.

As of now, the CISF has about 3,000 personnel who will retire over the next two years, while there are about 10,000 women personnel in the force and some 5,800 couples, with both working in the CISF. 

The policy also provides that in a given region or sector, the CISF staff will be drawn such that 60 per cent of them are from the local or home area, while the rest will be from outside the home zone.