A meeting of the Odisha Police Association was held here on Sunday evening in the premises of district police office, where Inspectors, Sub Inspectors and Assistant Sub Inspectors of the region mainly of Baleswar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj attended.
Several issues pertaining to the day-to-day issues of the police officers, including their problems and difficulties, were discussed.
The association observed that the police officers do their duties without any fixed hours. At times, they have to work for 18 hours or more, but their salary is not adequate. An officer in the rank of Tehsildar draws more salary and even the salary structure of a nurse is better than the police, they said.
Further, even after performing duty under hostile situation, they often face punitive action during maintaining law and order. During political meetings and rallies, even a minor insensible stray incident like egg throwing on a politician or Minister, they are made scapegoat. And, the first action by the department has been the suspension, they lamented.
The association which was formed way back in 1936 to protect the interest of the serving police officers was performing quite satisfactory till the eighties. Recently, the association has been revamped. The association would now look into the genuine interest of the officers, they said.
The newly elected president while is Satyajit Mishra, the general secretary is Jyotiranjan Samantray. The association has about 8,000 members, including Inspectors, SIs and ASIs.