Karnataka: Rs 2000 hike for cops, 2 new allowances, orderly system to be history

Bengaluru: Acceding to the long- pending demand of police constables, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah on Friday announced a Rs 2,000 hike in their salaries in the form of allowances from December 1. He also gave an assurance that he would constitute a wage commission next year, to look into the revision of their pay scales.

The constabulary had been upset over the state government's delay in announcing a pay hike, in keeping with the recommendations of a committee headed by ADGP Raghavendra Auradkar.

More pay is what they want
Speaking to reporters, Mr Siddaramaiah said, “The lower- rung police personnel in the state will receive a hike of Rs 2,000 in their salaries through allowances, as per the demand of the state constables and recommendation by a committee set up subsequently."

He hastened to admit that there was indeed disparity in pay, but said it would be difficult to proceed as the state cannot independently increase salaries for a single department. “We are likely to set up a pay committee next year and this matter will be referred to them,” he said.

One of the key demands by state constables was to bring their salary on par with their counterparts in other states.

While a constable’s pay ranges from Rs 11,600-21,000, a head constable’s pay ranges from Rs 12,500 -Rs 24,000.

Two new allowances
In the absence of any increase in salary, the state government has introduced two new allowances.

One is the Conveyance Allowance, which will be Rs 600 per month. Another is the Hardship allowance, amounting to Rs 1000 per month. “The state has also increased the Uniform allowance to Rs 500 per month from the existing Rs 100. These allowances will be paid from December 1, and will be applicable from the rank of constable to sub-inspector,” he said.

Accelerated promotion
The CM added that the state would also be implementing a policy of accelerated promotion. “Normally, constables wait anywhere from 20 to 22 years for a single promotion. We have decided to change it to 10,” he said. The changes will affect around 80,000 police personnel. The state will bear the additional cost of Rs 200 crore per year.

‘Orderly’ system on its way out
The CM reiterated that the archaic ‘orderly’ system would be abolished, but no time-frame was mentioned.

Later, home minister Dr G. Parameshwar too announced that the system would be scrapped. He had also proposed appointing ‘dalayats’.

Mr Siddaramaiah also said the state has approved recruitment of 4,561 constables and 333 sub inspectors for 2017-18 and 4,045 constables and 312 sub inspectors for 2018-19 to fill the vacancies that would be created.

Something is better than nothing, say disappointed cops
The state government’s decision to pay Rs 2,000 extra towards allowances to the policemen has not appeased the latter. As a committee headed by ADGP Raghavendra Auradkar had recommended a hike of 30-35 per cent, cops expected a raise of at least 25%.

But the government’s announcement on Friday has disappointed most constables in the city. “When we decided to go on a strike in June, the government did whatever it could to foil our plans. Then they had promised that they would look into our problems and had set up a committee, which recommended a 35 per cent hike. The government has granted us only a Rs 2,000-hike, which does not make much difference, and has announced that it would constitute a pay committee next year again. What was the purpose of setting up a committee and not implementing its recommendations? What is the guarantee it won’t set up another committee next year and reject its recommendations too ?,” questioned a constable working in the East division.

Another constable in the West division said, “The hike is meagre and we’re being made to wait for another year, that is, if the government sets up a second committee at all. How is this supposed to motivate us?”

However, a head constable in the CCB, said he would welcome the government’s move. “Many of my colleagues are not happy with the hike. But something is better than nothing. At least the government has considered our request and given us this. I hope that it will further respond to our demands in the coming days,” he said.