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The tribal youths fighting the Naxalites inside the dense forests of Chhattisgarh would get handsome pay hike of over 55 per cent.
A large number of tribal youths in Bastar raised arms against the Naxalites with the support of the state machineries. The state government appointed them as special police officer (SPOs) and provided arms besides paying an honorarium that was about one-third of the salary that the regular policemen were drawing. In July 2011, the apex court termed the appointed of SPOs as "unconstitutional" and rapped the state government for raising a private militia for counter-insurgency operations. The Chhattisgarh government took the decision to observe the SPOs in the regular police force and appoint them as assistant constables.
The government relaxed the eligibility criteria. The candidates passing Class V were eligible for the post of constable while the earlier requirement was Class X. About 80 percent of the SPOs were observed were enrolled to clear the exam through open school system. The state government has now decided to increase the facilities besides pay for the assistant constables. The state cabinet Tuesday approved the proposal to increase the salary of assistant constables besides a number of sops for those deployed in the red zone and combating the Left Wing Extremists. "In all, 22,000 constables would be benefitted while the state exchequer would have to incur an additional burden of Rs 121 crore," Chief Minister Raman Singh said after the meeting.
The assistant constables would now get a salary of Rs 14144 while they were earlier drawing Rs 8990. Besides, the life insurance cover of the assistant constables and secret constables (villagers providing intelligence inputs) had been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. The duty and ration allowance of the jawans posted in the Naxal-infested districts have also been increased.
The hike salary and allowances would come into effect from July 1, 2015, the state government spokesperson said.
