Maharashtra govt to pay full day's wages to cops working on weekly offs

Mumbai: Maharashtra government has decided to pay a full day's salary to police personnel who report for duty on a weekly off or a holiday, from April 1 this year, according to a government resolution issued today.

Principal Secretary (Special) of the Home department B K Upadhyay said about 60 per cent of the total four lakh police personnel, from constables to police inspectors, will benefit from this move.

"Due to factors like increasing population of the state, urbanisation, industrial growth and celebration of festivals like Ganeshotsav, Eid, Navratri and Diwali, there is tremendous pressure on the police force," Upadhyay told PTI.

He said a shortage of staff in the police department also leads to cancellation of leaves, resulting in duty hours as long as 12 hours.

"We regularly have dignitaries visiting different cities in the state for which we need VIP security in place. For special events, police officers have to work for as long as 12 hours at a stretch on some days, way beyond their usual duty. Shortage of staff in the police force also leads to cancellation of leaves. Thus, we believe that those who work on a holiday should get a full day's salary," he said.

Another official from the Maharashtra Home Department said police personnel would be able to avail a full day's salary for a maximum of eight days in a year and that funds to be allocated for this purpose would have to be adjusted from the existing allocation to the police department.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, had said the daily allowance varying from a police constable to a police inspector, which is currently in between Rs 68 to Rs 105, would now range from Rs 490 to Rs 902.

The wage revision has come after a gap of 11 years. The Congress-NCP government had discussed the issue various times but the allowances were not revised.