Meghalaya director general of police (DGP) R Chandranathan has pleaded that officers and personnel of the police department be exempted from the deferment of salary.
In a letter sent to additional chief secretary (finance), RV Suchiang, the DGP said the police department is working round the clock as frontline workers in each and every district during this pandemic.
The officers and personnel of the department are also reaching out on a daily basis to individuals both from the state and outside the state, rendering necessary assistance to them during this time of tribulations, the DGP stated.
“The strenuous efforts and the resolute duties that have been discharged by the officials of the department have been acknowledged by all spheres of the society, and this has encouraged our officers and men to continue performing with passion and zeal,” the letter said.
“However, the spirit of the police officials has been inhibited, on receiving the information that their salary has been deferred for two months,” Meghalaya DGP Chandranathan said.
The DGP said on receiving the orders, the officials have aired their grievances that despite being one of the frontline services of the state performing duties relentless, they have now to accept with heavy heart the pay deferment.
The pay deferment has resulted in extremely low morale among the officers and personnel of the department, he stated.
Concerns were also expressed by various senior officers of the department during the COVID19 meeting.
They stated that the deferment of salary will be inconvenient for officials of all ranks and will lower their morale especially when considering the fact that they are risking their lives daily while fighting the COVID19 battle in the state.
“Many officials of the department also have existing personal loan/car loan or housing loan which they have to pay on a monthly basis, and most of them have not opted for the loan moratoriums which have been offered by the banks,” said the DGP.
“In addition to the above, the officers and personnel who have their own family, have also expressed that with the deferment of salary, they will face encumbrances to manage their household as they are compelled to purchase commodities at exorbitant prices due to their nature of duty, which does not have an off day for them to search for shops with lower prices,” he said.
The police officials also expressed that with 50% or 35% or 25 % deferment of salary, and with approximately 25% loan deduction, approximately 20% house rent payment and with 10% NPS deduction for those recruited after 2010, they are left with only 5% or 10% or 20% of their salary.
They will have to manage it for themselves in their place of posting and for their families back home.
“The minimal amount will be burdensome for them to arrange for food, medical necessities and to meet other expenses, and this looming scenario has already affected their morale and confidence,” the DGP stated.
He said if the department’s officers and personnel are exempted from deferment of salary it will alleviate them from the quagmire that they may face in coming months and will lessen the burden for them while performing duties.