Project Mann by Mpower, under Aditya Birla Education Trust, has supported over 75,000 CISF personnel and families since 2024, reporting reduced suicide rates and increased access to mental healthcare
L to R Neerja Birla founder Chairperson Mpower Aditya Birla Education Trust and DG CISF R.S. Bhatti presenting a token of appreciation for the Impact created through project MANN
The Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), R.S. Bhatti, IPS, and Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), jointly reviewed the progress of Project Mann, a nationwide mental health initiative implemented by Mpower, an initiative of ABET. The project operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between CISF and ABET in November 2024.
Implemented across CISF units in India, Project Mann is focused on mental health support and awareness. It offers awareness-building sessions, clinical counselling, psychological interventions, and training of personnel through Mpower’s qualified team of mental health professionals.
According to data shared during the review, the programme has reached approximately 75,000 CISF personnel and their families. Mpower has trained 8,506 CISF officers and sub-officers to identify and manage low-risk mental health issues at the local level, with provision to escalate serious cases to trained mental health professionals. This two-tiered model is intended to enable earlier intervention and increase access to psychological care.
The programme has also included psychometric assessments of over 21,000 personnel stationed in high-sensitivity zones such as IGI Airport, Parliament, and Delhi Metro. These assessments aim at early detection of mental health risks and are used to initiate timely counselling and intervention. Identified concerns have included cases related to depression, marital discord and financial stress.
As per official data, the suicide rate within CISF has dropped below the national average during 2024 and 2025. This decline is being attributed, in part, to the interventions under Project Mann.
Given the reported impact of the initiative, DG CISF and Neerja Birla have decided to continue their support of Project Mann.
DG CISF R.S. Bhatti said, “Mental health is as mission-critical as physical fitness for our personnel. This initiative strengthens our internal support systems and ensures that our personnel remain emotionally resilient, focused and operationally ready.”
Neerja Birla, Founder-Chairperson, Mpower and ABET, said, “Our long-term partnership with CISF is a testament to what can be achieved when mental health is institutionalised. Over the past three years, Project Mann has supported more than 75,000 personnel with counselling, psychometric screening, peer engagement and a 24×7 helpline across CISF units nationwide. We appreciate CISF’s commitment to holistic well-being of integrating wellness protocols and care into daily system resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in suicide incidents as a positive outcome.”