No more domestic chores for K'taka police, says home minister

The Karnataka government, on Tuesday, decided to scrap the orderly system, or the employment of lower-level policemen used as personal staff for senior officers, and bring in reforms in the state's police department.

As a first step, the home ministry has announced plans to revamp the constabulary services in the state.

According to home minister G Parameshwara, a decision has been made to remove the orderly system which involves close to 2,500 constables who are currently stationed at homes of senior police officials.

“We will be withdrawing these constables, but as an alternative, Group D workers will be recruited to fill the posts. These workers will not be part of the police force. This change will be brought about in phases and will be implemented in Bengaluru first," said the minister after meeting senior police officials on Tuesday.

Check out: KSRP employee ironing official's wife's clothes

Asianet Newsable had on April 21 reported how senior police officials were, in violation of service rules, using the orderlies for household and personal chores. 

Also, a five-member committee will be formed to look into the demands of salary hike. The committee will be submitting a report within a month after conducting a comparative study of salaries offered to police officials in other states. “We will be putting forward this proposal before the state pay commission and all the conditions regarding a salary hike will be considered,” the home minister said.

To address the grievances of women constables, the state will consider constructing separate restrooms for men and women at police stations. Women constables who have children will be may not be transferred very often. Day care facilities will be provided wherever necessary, Parameshwara said.

The home ministry has also proposed to scrap police vehicles that are more than 15 years old. “This will happen over the next three years. The department has also purchased 163 buses for Karnataka State Reserve Police which will be handed over to them in a fortnight,” Parameshwara stated.

All district superintendents of police have been ordered to submit a list of police quarters, within 15 days, which require repairs and those in a dilapidated condition. 

"Children belonging to families whose parents work in the police department will be given better education facilities. Police public schools will follow the CBSE syllabus. Currently, there are two schools, one each in Mysuru and Dharwad which follow this system. These schools will reserve 60% seats for children of police personnel and 40% for general public. Education will be provided free of cost to police personnel's children," said Parameshwara.

Other changes which will be made to the police department include gazetted holidays for non-IPS officers, no denial of leave unless in the case of an emergency, barracks with modern facilities, promotions to be cleared within a month and encashing facility for ration allowance.

"The families of the deceased is compensated with an amount of ₹50 lakhs which one of the highest in India for policemen who have died in the line of duty," said Parameshwara.