VIP protection to get dearer

Charges for the protection given to the private persons and VIPs have been increased by the home department. The rise, according to the decision taken by the home minister RR Patil, on Wednesday, is nearly 75%.

According to the records between 2007 and 2009, 5,042 people and 7,066 institutions like banks were provided with the police protection.

More than 8,000 police personnel were engaged in the protection given to the private persons.

With the decision to hike the rates, the police protection will now cost between Rs1,169 and Rs2,158 per shift of eight hours. For institutions it will range between Rs1,022 and Rs1,831.

The charges are payable only by the persons to whom the protection is provided on demand. “MPs, MLAs, elected representatives and the persons with the social and national importance are provided security without any charges,” said a state official.

The official added that after the hike in the salary of the police personnel and officials after the sixth pay commission, the rise in the charges was inevitable. “The department had proposed to move the hike proposal before the cabinet. However, home minister did not see the need for the cabinet approval and, hence, signed the file. The government resolution will be issued in couple of days,” he added.

The state government earned revenue of Rs9.33 crore from private persons and Rs98.19 crore from institutions during 2007 to 2009. The revenue is expected to go up by 75% after the hike.