PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept 27: Over two and a half thousand assistant police of Jharkhand started their agitation for their demands including permanent jobs and an increase in their fixed honorarium. In this sequence, a large number of assistant policemen have reached Morabadi ground in Ranchi for an indefinite period. Tight security arrangements have also been made.
Talking to the policemen regarding their problem they said that they are working day and night and rendering their service for the people of Jharkhand. They are only provided with 18 approved leave because of which they are unable to perform their domestic responsibilities. Moreover, if they exceed the leave limit it will be deducted and reflected in their pay.
They also said that there is always an increase in the pay keeping in mind inflation, but they have been paid the same honorarium for the entire period. Also, they are not provided with any health benefits for themselves as well as their family members. Moreover, they are not provided with any kit maintenance allowance because of which they have to maintain their dress from their own pocket.
They said that for the last 4 years, they have been made to work by keeping only 10 thousand rupees on honorarium. They were working considering their future. Leaving other works, they have served on this post and now the Jharkhand government wants to get rid of them. The government should make their direct appointment as police.
They were appointed as Assistant Police in the year 2017 on assurance of permanent reinstatement after three years. In Jharkhand, two and a half thousand men and women were appointed as assistant police. The personnel working on the post of assistant police say that their reinstatement was done in the year 2017 during the then Raghubar government.
During the tenure of the then Raghubar government, 2500 young men and women from 12 Naxal-affected districts of the state were hired on a three-year contract to serve in the home district. There was an agitation against the process of being fired at the end of the contract period in 2020. After which the contract was extended for one year. Meanwhile, the contract has been extended till 2022. But till now there has been no increase in the honorarium.
These assistant police personnel have been given duty in traffic, security, bank, collectorate gate and other places and they have also been engaged in various programs. There is a lot of resentment against the government among the auxiliary police personnel of Jharkhand. They have reached Ranchi on foot from different districts to get their demands fulfilled. During this, the health of some assistant policemen had also deteriorated.