Hardship Allowance

Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted, shall be getting the Hardship Allowance at changed rates with intent to bringing about rationality in the rates on account of hike in their salaries due to implementation of 7th Pay Commission. In this connection, the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the grant of Hardship Allowance at the rate of 8 percent of basic pay in the revised pay levels. To get the benefits there from, it is decided to pay the same with effect from this month itself.
As the name itself of the said allowance suggests, the force which has to perform duties, at times where existing or spontaneous challenges and constraints are braved by them and at various occasions, even they have laid down their lives for the sake of the country in the highest traditions of commitment and loyalty, this allowance is paid. We, however feel and accordingly opine that even in the revised pay scales under 7th Pay Commission, 10 percent rate should have not been disturbed. By their superb track record of performance even under most trying and periling circumstances, they have proved that they are no less in professionalism than any other Police force of the country, hence previous rate of ten percent uniformly would have been advisable though, it cannot be denied that the state pays nearly 80 percent of its earned revenue alone on salaries and pensions to its employees and pensioners respectively and rationality and revising of rates pursuant to pay revisions becomes an administrative necessity.
Those personnel who fall under the ‘classified category’ including the ones deployed with Special Police components and Bomb Disposal Squads, would be getting such allowance at enhanced rate of 10 percent. We have learnt that the State Finance Department would be separately notifying the concerned personnel about the enhanced rate. As per calculations, the benefits of the Hardship Allowance at the rate of 8 percent under 7th Pay Commission are more than ten percent under the previous 6th Pay Commission.
Moreover, to give a boost to the existing strength of women police personnel, the State Administrative Council has accorded sanction to two additional battalions along with creation of various ranks for these battalions which include 2 posts of Commandants, six Deputy Commandants, 14 Dy. SPs and as many Inspectors etc including Head constables, constables and some other ranks.. Two posts of Medical Officers, four posts of Medical Assistants and other required posts are decided to be created. These two battalions exclusively for women are proposed to be shaped on the pattern of Border Battalions. What is needed more in this connection is imparting the new force the necessary training completely on modern pattern in order to make them efficient enough to tackle any type of crime especially against the women. The aim of raising additional battalions is with intention to give due representation to the women in Police Force.
It is, however, to be seen, as to how fast recruitment to these two battalions takes place and the decision really given a practical shape. If within one year the entire process is to be completed, then the exercise should start in the right earnest, as early as possible. So far the financial implications are concerned, nearly half of the cost is going to be borne by the Central Government out of the total cost of Rs. 235.86 crore. Keeping the series of measures of taking important decisions which were either kept pending for long or were not implemented due to host of reasons, the SAC has approved locations for the establishment of forty new Government Degree Colleges to be set up during 2019-20 and 2020-21. These colleges are slated to be made operational during 2020-21 by which time reasonable infrastructure including the staff would be hopefully arranged. The optimistic note is that at some places, classes are expected to be started during 2019-20.

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