Bengaluru: The constables will henceforth get a monthly ration allowance of Rs 400 in exchange of free ration that they have been receiving from the government at an annual expenditure of around Rs 36 crore.
The state constabulary, which had threatened to go on one day mass leave on June 4 this year, had demanded that they should be given a monthly allowance for ration, which is a practice in other states, instead of free foodgrains.
“The government order has been issued to this effect and from October 1, constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors and sub-inspectors will receive a monthly ration allowance of Rs 400 with their salaries. This will help the department to empower the constables and their families to make their food choices,” said Additional Director General of Police, Administration, Praveen Sood.
In Karnataka, the junior ranks of the police department – from the constables to the PSIs – are entitled to free foodgrains to ensure that their families are also benefited. “In other states, they are given monetary allowance for ration and this was one of their prominent demands apart from being allotted shift duties and weekly offs,” said the ADGP.
He said that monetary food allowance will minimise the pressure on the department so far as distribution of foodgrains is concerned. “The manpower, which was being used for distribution will be suitably deployed for other police duties,” he said. There are around 77,000 constables in the nearly one-lakh-strong police force in Karnataka.
