Unofficial ‘martyr’s fund’ for traffic cops who die on duty
When a police official dies on duty, what suppport does his or her family get? Apart from the compensatory amount they may recieve from the state or central government, an unofficial contribution also comes as part of the package.
When a police official dies on duty, what suppport does his or her family get? Apart from the compensatory amount they may recieve from the state or central government, an unofficial contribution also comes as part of the package.
In the last five years 10 traffic officials have died on-duty.
The victim’s colleagues from his or her department have created a ‘Martyr’s Fund’. “Around Rs. 20 lakh is given to officials who are killed while on duty and Rs. 10 lakhs is given to officials who die due to other reasons while they are employed. In addition, the department also tries to give employment to the family members of the victims as per their educational qualifications,” said Muktesh Chander, special commissioner of police (traffic).
Manna Ram, the constable who recently died after being run over by a car while on duty, is survived by his 21-year old wife Sugni Devi and a two-year-old son. He was cremated on Monday morning.
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“My son is very young and I am not educated enough to fend for the family. I don’t know how we will survive,” Sugni told HT.
“Manna was an inspirational figure to many young men in the village. He was the only man to have cleared the Delhi police exams and to get a chance to serve the nation. Whenever he came for his holidays to the village, people would gather around him to enquire about his duty routine,” said Suresh, Ram’s cousin.
Ram’s family is yet to recieve compensation but Suresh said that the Delhi traffic police officials have been supportive to them.
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In 2013, traffic constable Mahesh Anand Sharma was managing traffic for a foreign dignitary’s arrival when he was run over by a dumper truck. His wife Anju sharma has since become the sole breadwinner for their two children.
Anju is unemployed and is finding it difficult to make ends meet with the compensation amount. But unlike Sugni Devi, she is a post-graduate and is thus eligible for an appointment to the police department. Anju said she expects the family condition to improve after that.
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