Diwali gift for 1.2 lakh policemen in Maharashtra

It's a Diwali gift from the state government to about 1.2 lakh policemen of the rank of police sub-inspector and below.

Beginning next month, these policemen will get their daily allowances along with their monthly salary, unlike now, when the disbursement of the daily allowances is inordinately delayed.

The decision to streamline the disbursement of such allowances for policemen was taken during a meeting of home department officials on August 20. It would be implemented from September 1.

The department has been receiving complaints from a vast section of the state police force about the 'inordinate' delay on part of the department in disbursing the daily allowances. Police officials told DNA that at present, the process of disbursement of daily allowances is rather cumbersome.

After noting the details, the administration wing of the respective police commissonerate used to prepare the bill and forward it to the treasury of the office of the director general of police. After scrutinising the bills, the treasury would approve the bills and send it back to the commissionarates before the amount is disbursed.

Policemen of the rank of havildar and naik are entitled to Rs30 as daily allowance and policemen at the rank of police sub-inspector, assistant police inspector and photographer get Rs36 per day.

According to an IPS officer attached with the Pune police, havildars and naiks get Rs700 and PSIs, APIs and photographers would get Rs840 per month as refreshment allowance.

"And this amount would be distributed along with their salaries every month," the IPS officer explained.

A police naik attached with the Chatuhshrungi police station expressed happiness that the state government has taken such a decision. "This is a positive step taken by the department. Since we are going to get our allowances with salary, we can invest the amount,'' he said.

A police sub-inspector attached with city traffic police said, "We are happy that we would get extra money with our salary. Previously, we used to get our allowances after six months,'' he said.