Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat made a slew of announcements meant to ensure better policing and welfare of the policemen after paying tributes to the Police martyrs on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day in Dehradun on Saturday. The day is observed in remembrance of 10 policemen of Central Reserve Police Forces who were martyred on October 21, 1959, while fighting the Chinese forces on the borders in ladakh.
Rawat said that his Government is committed to improving residential facilities of the members of the State police force. “Presently, the State figure for residential facilities for the police personnel stands at 18 per cent against the national average of 25 per cent. The State Government would construct more residential houses for them. This would help further boost their morale and enhance their efficiency,” he said, adding that he would appeal to the Centre to provide a part of the requisite funds for the purpose with the rest being borne by the state government.
Rawat further said that a special fund of Rs 3 crore would be provided to the State police department soon to enhance their working capacity as well as to weed out corruption from the department. “Besides, the amount which is given to the next of kin of the policeman who died while in the line of duty has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. Motor bike allowances given to the head constables and constables have been increased too from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200,” he said.
The CM further announced that the training allowances on basic salary to the appointed trainers working at Police Training Centre, Narendra Naga and the Armed Training Centre, Haridwar are being hiked by 15 per cent.
“To better law and order and to check drug peddling, two new police stations and one police post would come up soon,” he said while exhorting the police personnel to work impartially and treat all equally according to the laws of the land. He also asked them to help both the people and the tourists feel secure in their presence.
While referring to the menace of extremism posing challenges to the Governments in several States, the CM said that despite Uttarakhand sharing boundaries with two neighbouring countries, things are peaceful here thanks to the hawk-eyed vigil being maintained by police.