Jammu and Kashmir police (JKP) personnel, serving in Rajouri and Poonch districts, where infiltration attempts and cross border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) have always been the amin threat, are eagerly awaiting for the government to announce hardship allowance in their favour.
A number of cops, from the rank of special police officials (SPOs) to higher-ups, shared their views with Greater Kashmir on the condition of anonymity. They said that since the state is under Governor’s rule, they have been waiting for the announcement every day.
“The nature of duty being performed by police officials in Jammu and Kashmir state is entirely different from the civil counterparts. The profession includes prolonged working hours, imminent threat to life and property from militants and anti-social elements and high risk environment. These factors are enough to showcase the tough life of cops in the state,” a middle-level police official serving in Rajouri said, adding, “We are eligible for special incentives, like hardship allowance as being given to CAPFs.”
Another police officer told Greater Kashmir, “JKP, in collaboration with CAPF and army, is fighting militancy on one hand and is also facing law and order on the other. It is perhaps the only force in the entire country where the officials are not able to visit their homes routinely, keeping the constant risk factor in mind.”
He added that his views are based on ground realities, which both the state and central governments are aware of.
A special police official serving in the area, who was appointed in 2002, presented a slightly different view. He underlined the need of a fixed hardship allowance to all, right from the ranks of SPOs to constables.
“We, SPOs, serve like regular cops and hundreds of our brothers-in-arms have sacrificed their lives facing militancy and other situations in the state,” he said, adding, “But, we hardly get enough allowances. Our basic monthly salary is not enough to run daily circles.”
“Our basic salary is already less and thus, a hardship allowance should not seem like a big deal. We asked the government to provide us with hardship allowance,” another SPO said.
Sharing his views on this issue on the condition of anonymity, another police officer said, “Hardship allowance is our genuine demand. We, being part of a belt force and further governed by a set of strict rules, cannot go on agitations and protests to make the government accept our demand. Hardship allowance is not just an important factor to increase our pay, but it can also help in boosting our morale.”
He further said, “In Rajouri and Poonch districts, we are confronting a number of challenges. These include strong security arrangements in hinterlands as militants try to make regular infiltration bids. Besides, the safety of civil population during cross-border shelling, rescue operation in case of any disaster or accident, routine crime dealing, investigation, traffic management, VIP movement and other such daily works make our job even more challenging.”
They cops urged upon the Governor Satya Pal Malik to look into their grievances and sanction a hardship allowance, “which is the need of the hour.”