The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has the distinction of being the first IT-enabled paramilitary force of the country. CRPF has traveled a long way in its arduous journey towards being IT-enabled. The Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Cell was set up in the Force in as early as 1972. In the early years, computers were used mainly for the preparation of pay rolls at the Directorate of Coordination on Police Computers (DCPC). Those were the early days of computers, and data was fed through punched cards. Later on, Unix-based systems and PCs were procured. The communication wing of CRPF handled wireless communication in the Force. With technologies converging, today the signal wing in the CRPF handles both EDP/IT and communication. An officer of the rank additional DIG heads the EDP/IT unit.

CRPF, initially, set up as a one-battalion Crown Representatives Police, CRPF today is a mammoth 201-battalion strong Force, and employs close to 260,000 officers, men and women. Divided into sectors, and sectors into ranges, the force has units all across the country. There are special units such as the Rapid Action Force, women battalions, disaster management battalions, and signal battalions. It is the main force for law and order duties, internal security, and counter insurgency operations. By the very nature of its duty, the Force is highly mobile and scattered. It is often deployed at a very short noticesometimes on just an hours notice. Most battalions, company and platoons do not have static location. An ERP solution is a dire necessity to manage such a mammoth Force deployed on multifarious duties. Moreover, insurgent groups are increasingly IT-savvy now, and use sophisticated equipments. CRPF has to equip itself with the latest IT solutions to meet challenges effectively.

The SELO Initiative
The present IT initiative of CRPF is called Project SELO, and is a feather in the cap of the IT initiatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs. SELO is the acronym of "Service and Loyalty," the motto of the Force. The five-year computerization plan was conceived in 1997. It is a customized ERP solution, and covers all functions of the Force, viz, operations, personnel, inventory, budget, and finance. The application is well integrated with messaging and workflow. Various units of the Force have been connected for data and voice through WAN and LAN. The entire command structure of the Force has been covered.

Project Leadership
The bureaucratic system functions with objections, delays, eliminations, and frequent transfers. Regulatory functionaries within the bureaucracy treat IT projects also with characteristic indifferences and delayed decisions. However, IT projects need constant nurturing, technological foresights, timely actions, and sagacious leadership to lead through uncertainties, change, and obsolescence. The high rate of failure of IT projects, obsolescence of technology, and absence of precedence in this emerging field increases the importance of the leadership. Brigadier JS Sawhney provided the leadership and continuity to Project SELO. He led project since its inception till he left the CRPF in 2003. Even after, he nurtured the project in advisory capacity up to the rollout in 2005.

Notwithstanding the fact that the project was in a paramilitary force, and was led by an army officer, the project was not implemented by thrusting it down on the unwilling personnel. Indeed, everybody from the lowest dealing assistant to the director general was approached for the requirement analysis. This ensured widespread and ready acceptability of the project throughout the organization.

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