The West Bengal government has decided to provide an honorarium to police personnel involved in election duties for the Lok Sabha elections. This is the first instance in the state where such an honorarium will be extended to members of the police force, who traditionally did not receive such payments.
According to sources, the decision aligns with election norms and marks a departure from the past practice where only civil authorities, such as Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers, were eligible for honoraria. The West Bengal government has allocated over Rs 31 crore for this initiative, with around Rs 1 crore specifically earmarked for approximately 100 officers of the Kolkata Police.
Under the new arrangement, officers ranging from the officer-in-charge of police stations to those at the Director General (DG) level will receive an honorarium equivalent to one month’s basic salary. Lower-ranked personnel, including constables, will be given a flat amount of Rs 7,500. This move is aimed at recognizing the demanding nature of election duties, which involve significant work and responsibility for both civil authorities and police personnel.
A senior police official noted that the honorarium acknowledges the extensive efforts required from the police force during elections, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation for their demanding roles.
However, the decision has faced criticism from certain political quarters. Locket Chatterjee, a BJP leader, accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of using the honorarium as a reward for police support that allegedly contributed to the party’s electoral success. Chatterjee suggested that the police were being rewarded for their role in securing favorable election outcomes for the TMC.
Agnimitra Paul, another BJP member, echoed similar sentiments, alleging that the honorarium was intended to incentivize police support for the TMC. Paul criticized the police for their alleged involvement in fabricating cases and influencing election outcomes, asserting that the honorarium was justified due to these alleged malpractices.
In response to the criticisms, sources within the bureaucracy have pointed out that providing honoraria to election officials, including police personnel, is a common practice across various states. They argue that the measure is in line with standard procedures designed to ensure effective election management and compensate those involved in the rigorous electoral process.
