In sync with the State Government’s emphasis on checking migration from the hills to the plains, the State police have decided to keep some sections of the police personnel hailing from the hill districts posted in their home districts, though in Tehsils different from those they are from.
Ashok Kumar, additional director general of police (administration), said that the decision has been taken in course of a meeting of the state police establishment committee comprising state DGP MA Ganapathy, ADGP (administration) and additional DGP (law and order) Ram Singh Meena. “As per the decision, the policemen of the rank of head constables and constables from civil police and fire service men among others who, though from the hills, are now posted in the plains would be transferred to their home districts. “However, they would not be posted in the same Tehsils they are from,” he added.
Observers hail the decision, saying that it would go a long way in checking the migration spree with the police personnel from the hills being settled in their home districts with their families. “The alarming fact is that several posts at a number of police stations are vacant in five districts- Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag. This is because no one from the plains is ready to join these police stations,” says an observer.
Police sources say that the practice continuing in the intelligence department of transferring policemen hailing from the hills to their home districts has inspired the new initiative of the state police brass. “As the personnel from the hills are ready to join posts in their home districts there is no vacancy in the intelligence department.This augurs well for the hills not just from the law and order point of view but from the standpoint of migration. It would ensure a reverse migration as the families of such personnel would return to their home districts,” says a police officer.
Kumar further said that to begin with, those of the ranks of chief constables, constables, firemen, fire service drivers/assistant drivers and clerical staffer hailing from Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts would be appointed or transferred at their home districts if they opt for it.