New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS): The Jammu and Kashmir State Administrative Council (SAC), which is chaired by Governor Satya Pal Malik, on Sunday decided to increase and pay the dress and kit maintenance allowance to the J&K Police personnel directly in cash, according to an official statement.

For kit maintenance, the non-gazetted and gazetted employees received Rs 40 and Rs 150 per month, respectively. The uniform allowance is procured by the police headquarters and paid to non-gazetted staff and SPOs.

The step had been taken to regularise the payment of uniform allowance, the official statement said and added, major items, like shirts and woollens, were often provided to the police personnel after two or more years.

Now Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) will get Rs 10,000 per annum (against Rs 1,800), the Inspector to Assistant Sub-Inspector rank officers will get Rs 7,000 per annum (against Rs 480).

This allowance will also be given to Special Police Officers (SPOs), a key component of the J&K Police, who play a vital role in counter-insurgency, guarding vital installations, maintaining law and order and providing assistance in organising important events.

The SPOs will now be paid an honorarium of Rs 3,000 per annum for uniform. "This will benefit the entire police force of J&K," the statement said.