Chhattisgarh: Police reform panel suggests more leaves for cops in Maoist areas

Chhattisgarh: Police reform panel suggests more leaves for cops in Maoist areas

News: Neha Champawat committee recommendations on police reforms.

Facts:

• Police personnel and their families in Chhattisgarh had recently carried out street protests and demanded improvements in emoluments given to them.
• A five-member committee was formed by the new Chhattisgarh government, which has submitted its report to the DGP.

Recommendations of the Committee:

• More leaves: Officers on field posting should get at least “one leave per week”, and police personnel in Maoist violence-affected areas should be eligible for eight days leave at a stretch every three months.
• Medical counseling services: In every range headquarters, a gynaecologist, a psychologist, and a physiotherapist should be made available for personnel at the government hospital two days each week and this should be extended to district headquarters eventually.
• Raising women ratio in services: Raising women constables and sub-inspectors in the police force from 9% to 30%. At every district headquarters there should be a women’s transit mess/hostel, and at every police station there should be a women’s toilet.
• House Rent Allowance: Increase in House Rent Allowance from the current 7% to 15% for police personnel posted in forward Maoist areas. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana HRA is as high as 30%.
• Other allowances: 10% risk allowance for those in forward areas and an increase in food and daily allowances, as well as a school in state capital Raipur for “talented” students of police personnel, and a police housing society developed by the Police Housing Corporation at the district level.
• IT and legal support: There should be an IT officer at every police station in the state, and a law officer should be attached with the office of the SP of each district.