Maharashtra offers 50% more salary to cops posted in Maoist-hit areas

To encourage policemen to take up posting in Maoist-dominated areas of Gadchiroli, Aheri (police district) and Gondia districts, the state government has decided to give them to give them monetary benefits — an additional 50% of their salary every month.

To encourage policemen to take up posting in Maoist-dominated areas of Gadchiroli, Aheri (police district) and Gondia districts, the state government has decided to give them to give them monetary benefits — an additional 50% of their salary every month.

The decision will also be applicable to state reserve forces and other departments such as state intelligence department (SID), among others.

Superintendent of police (Gadchiroli), Sandip Patil, told HT the policy will motivate cops to serve in such sensitive regions.

The hike will be implemented in salary and dearness allowance and will be applicable to the police personnel till they continue serving in the sensitive areas.

An order to this effect was issued last week and will be applicable from January 2015 to the year-end. It will most likely be extended after this period, said sources.

According to sources in the force, effective policing by the state police — along with reserve state and central paramilitary — has yielded results in the Maoist-hit areas.

For instance, in 2013, the police arrested 50 Maoists and killed 27, while in 2014, 26 were arrested. In 2015 (till March-end), 13 were killed and 10 were arrested.

The government, on its part, has been paying special attention to the region by meeting all the needs of the security forces.

“In the past, policemen avoided serving in these areas, which created many vacancies. Shortage of manpower meant forces from outside had to be posted in the region. However, with policies such as special allowances and speedy promotions, the government has managed to get police personnel in this region,” said an officer of the state police.

The state government also offers accelerated promotions to help the police officers overcome their reluctance of taking up posting in Maoist-affected regions.