Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2009:
With allegations from sections of the Government employees of deliberate delaying tactics and malpractices in getting medical reimbursement yet to subside, an Assistant Sub Inspector is said to have passed away owing to similar discrepancies.
According to some disgruntled colleagues of the deceased Home Department employees namely Keshonanda, who was an ASI in the Imphal West district police, underwent treatment at an Imphal hospital some two year back when he was a havildar.
Having recovered from the illness and released from hospital, Keshonanda literally ran from pillar to post to get the medical reimbursement but without success only for his efforts to be compensated in the form of promotion to ASI.
His bliss in the elevated position, however, lasted briefly as Keshonanda passed away about 4-5 months back with the reimbursement file still gathering dust at the State Secretariat rack.
Pouring out their hearts' content on alleged lackadaisical attitude in the administrative set-up of the Home Department, the victim's colleague also revealed that to withdraw savings from a police personnel's General Provident Fund (GPF), which is an accumulation of deduction out of the monthly salary, it takes about two years.
Some of them also chipped in saying that fortunate Home Department employees could withdraw GPF savings in about one and half year.
Pointing out that services being rendered by the Home Dept employees on the law and order front in the State could not be ignored, they also informed that an amount of Rs 570 is provided as monthly ration money which can be calculated to only Rs 19 for two square meals a day.
Upset that the ration money provision had not been reviewed for the past many years, the aggrieved Home Department personnel expressed awe that inspite of prices of essential commodities sky rocketting the ration money remains static.
Sharing guidelines pertaining to police service rules, they said one ACP should be granted to a police personnel along with monthly increment in the salary ceiling who had been in service for 12 years, whereas it should be two ACPs and commensurate increment in salary for those personnel having attained 24 years of service in case they are not promoted.
It is also revealed that with files related to ACP benefits to the havildars also gathering dust in the Police Headquarters, constables are drawing salaries more than the havildars.
They Home Department employees further highlighted that apart from crores of rupees being pumped in under the police modernisation scheme along with purchase of modern weapons, fresh recruitments are being conducted to strengthen the police force.
Ironically, inspite of such steps being initiated under the objective of improving the police set-up and increasing its mobility, the personnel have to toil to even withdraw from their personal GPF accounts, they added.