Many police personnel have reportedly applied for VRS in protest
Tuesday, 11 January 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Resentment is brewing among the families of the police personnel after the state government offered them a one-time amount of Rs two lakh rather than accepting their demand of the grade pay of Rs 4,600 to the police constables of the 2001 batch which they claim was promised by the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on October 21. Many even expressed their resentment against the CM on various social media platforms and even used the hashtag #boycottbjp stating they will not let BJP win the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Several applications of voluntary retirement service (VRS) by many police personnel from districts like Champawat, Almora and Haridwar were also making rounds in social media since Sunday. However, the official sources informed that most of the applications of the voluntary retirement are counterfeit but the respective Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and superintendent of police (SP) will take action against the personnel who uploaded these applications in the social media platforms. It is also learned that many personnel applied for the VRS under their family pressure and now have taken their applications back. About eight personnel have applied for VRS in the Champawat district but the SP Devendra Pincha told The Pioneer that all the applicants have given a letter to him stating that they take their applications back as they did it in a fit of rage. On the other hand, the SSP of Almora, Manjunath informed that only two personnel have given their VRS application so far but the matter is under investigation. “We are looking into the matter and appropriate action will be taken on the matter soon,” stated the Almora SSP. Reacting to the resentment of the constables and their families, the CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that his feelings are with the families of the personnel and the government has offered them a one-time amount of Rs two lakh after much deliberation. He said that if the government will offer grade pay of 4,600 to the constables of the 2001 batch then the staff of other departments will demand it too. Considering this, he said, the government offered them the one time amount Rs two lakh for four years and added that his sympathies are with the police personnel’s families.
The demand of the police personnel for a grade pay of Rs 4600 after 20 years of service is an old one. On the demand of the relatives of the police personnel the state government constituted a cabinet subcommittee. Later the state cabinet left the issue on the CM Dhami who announced a lump sum payment of Rs 2 Lakh for the 2001 batch personnel.
