From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 18: At a time when almost all sections of the people all over the country are facing an acute cash crunch on account of the demonetisation drive of high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from November 8 midnight, Karnataka’s police personnel have something to cheer.
All police personnel in Karnataka up to the rank of sub-inspectors of police would get an increased monthly allowances to the tune of Rs 2,000 with effect from December 1, 2016.
The much criticised system of orderlies, trained constables, who were doing menial jobs in the homes of police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above, would also be abolished.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who made this announcement in the presence of Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar at his home office Krishna on Friday, said 90 per cent of the police personnel in the State would benefit from the hike in allowances.
The State government would constitute a pay commission next year for revision of salary of all government employees, including police, he announced.
He also said promotion would be granted to constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) once in every 10 years during their service.
The Chief Minister said the recommendations of a committee headed by ADGP RaghavendraAuradkarwas the basis for increasing allowances of constables, head constables, ASIs and SIs.
While monthly uniform allowances have been hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 500, conveyance allowances will go up to Rs 600 and risk allowances of Rs 1000 each.
"The police personnel are doing a tough job in maintaining law and order and also in tackling crime. The working conditions of the police personnel need to be improved constantly," he said.
Earlier, police personnel up to the rank of sub-inspectors were not given conveyance and risk allowances.
About 80,000 police personnel would benefit from these three kinds of allowances, he said.
The increase in allowances would cost the state exchequer Rs 90 crore a year, the Chief Minister said and said the police personnel deserve the benefits.
It may be recalled that the police constabulary in the State was upset over the State Government’s delay in announcing a pay hike as per the recommendations of the Raghavendra Auradkar committee.