Cops draw TN CM's attention to their demands

Chennai: Two days before the home department demand for grants is to come up for debate in the Assembly, the Tamil Nadu police constabulary association sent a letter to the Chief Minister seeking filling more than 20,000 vacancies in the department, one day off a week, over time compensation for working on holidays, increase in risk allowance to Rs 5,000 and one year maternity leave for women constables.

The registered association, which is yet to be recognised by the police department, also asked the government to look into long pending demands before implementing the 7th pay commission recommendations. The association can have as its members enrolled constables to inspectors.

The government should make sure that the police personnel attached to law & order, crime, traffic, armed reserve and special battalions should get one day compulsory off during a week.

"If there is a situation where one day off in a week cannot be given to a particular policemen, he should be compensated with additional pay for that day," demanded K Shivakumar, state head of the constabulary association in his letter to the chief minister.  He also demanded that policemen working on government holidays like Pongal, Deepavali, May Day, Christmas and Ramzan should be also compensated with additional one day payment.

Another point highlighted in the letter is the assurance on promotion for police personnel in every 10 years of service.  "Unlike other government employees, police personnel are working in an atmosphere that is risky with regard to health and mind wise too and their risk allowance should be increased to Rs.5,000," the letter said. Similarly, the letter also seeks an increase in food allowance from Rs. 200 to Rs.300.

The association also demanded that the government should take steps to include the police personnel and their family members under government supported medical insurance schemes.