At a time when the outbreak of Covid-19 has adversely affected the well-being of people; Jharkhand Police and the police associations have extended helping hands to police personnel by extending them financial support.
Jharkhand Police has released Rs 2.8 crore out of the joint corpus funds of Jharkhand Police Association and Jharkhand Men’s Police Association to children of as many as 1538 police personnel.
Similarly, financial support worth Rs 1.25 crore have been extended to dependents of as many as 311 police personnel.
Recently a meeting was chaired by DG (Headquarter) Ajay Kumar Singh who heads Jharkhand Police Education Fund and Jharkhand Police Benevolence Fund which approved applications for financial help.
Besides Singh, ADG (Special Branch) ML Meena, IG (Provision) Suman Gupta, DIG (CID) Devendra Thakur, DIG (Budget) A. Vijaya Laxmi and officer bearers of both police associations participated in the meeting.
“This is basically an internal support system of the state police force. Police personnel and their family members up to inspector rank can be the beneficiaries. This is the corpus fund created by both associations. Their members contribute money out of their salary and the objective is to extend support to persons in need of financial support. Under education fund financial supports have been extended under three slabs Rs 6000, Rs 12000 and Rs 25000 to support their children pursuing school, college and professional education,” A Vijaya Laxmi informed The Pioneer.
However, even inspector rank officials can apply for financial assistance for their children. But practically they avoid it so that lower rank staff up to assistant sub inspector get the benefit.
The amount may be small but it has come as a big support for those who have seen unprecedented crisis.
“During economic slowdown two of my family members lost their jobs so I had to support them also. Besides, my son is pursuing an engineering course and I was deeply worried because of the paltry income I can’t sustain. I applied for my son and an amount of Rs 25000 was approved,” said one of the beneficiaries.
Devendra Thakur, DIG (Budget) informed that under benevolence fund dependent of the deceased police personnel have been given financial assistance.
Akshay Ram, general secretary of Jharkhand Police Association said that members of both associations raise funds to support fellow policemen and their family.
“Covid-19 has left everybody bothered financially and mentally including police personnel. From the last six months we were desperately trying to hold a meeting to release funds but due to the extraordinary situation due to Covid-19 we were unable to disburse funds. We are also eager for a medical claim facility for them and a proposal has been sent to police headquarters,” said Ram.