Srinagar, May 07 (KNO): Paying tributes to the sacrifices of 1,620 police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Thursday said supporting the families of these martyrs is “not a matter of policy but a matter of solemn duty”.
He made these remarks as J&K Police and J&K Bank signed a historic addendum to their 2023 Memorandum of Understanding, enhancing welfare, insurance and compensation benefits for police personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs).
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the addendum was signed by DGP Nalin Prabhat and J&K Bank Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee in the presence of senior officers of J&K Police and J&K Bank.
Speaking on the occasion, the DGP said the addendum increases insurance cover, compensation and support structures with new provisions for critical medical needs, children’s education and family responsibilities.
Highlighting the enhanced health insurance cover facilitated by the Bank, he said the provision ensures that serious illness or injury does not become a financial burden on the families of those serving in difficult operational conditions.
“The peace and stability witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir today has come at a tremendous cost borne by the brave personnel of the force,” Prabhat said, reiterating that the leadership of J&K Police remains fully committed towards the welfare, dignity and future security of all police personnel and SPOs.
He directed all field formations and senior officers to ensure the effective dissemination of information regarding the enhanced benefits among all ranks.
“There can be no better institution than J&K Bank to lead this initiative and ensure that the families left behind by our martyrs are cared for with dignity and security. I express gratitude to J&K Bank for steady support and am hopeful we will continue to nourish this relationship,” the J&K Police chief added.
Speaking on the occasion, J&K Bank MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee said the Bank shares a long-standing relationship with J&K Police, an institution that has played a key role in maintaining peace, law and order and public safety in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Today’s addendum to the MoU reflects our continued commitment towards the welfare and financial security of police personnel, SPOs and their families,” he said.
He added that the peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir have come through the sacrifices of J&K Police personnel and their families, and appreciated the support extended by J&K Police to the Bank in tackling cyber frauds and digital financial crimes linked to online banking channels.
In his remarks, ADGP Manish K Sinha commended the role of the Bank, saying J&K Bank has been playing a transformative role in the financial domain by powering the engines of the J&K economy.
“In this backdrop, two of Jammu & Kashmir’s most vital institutions have come together to further strengthen the financial security and welfare ecosystem for the brave personnel and families who have contributed immensely towards ensuring peace and stability in this part of the world,” he said.
Earlier, General Manager Rakesh Magotra gave a detailed presentation on the Bank’s enhanced welfare framework devised for police personnel and their families.
According to a police statement, the Group Personal Accidental Insurance cover for regular J&K Police personnel has been enhanced from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, while the cover for SPOs has been enhanced from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh.
It said an additional PAI cover of Rs 10 lakh has been introduced for regular police personnel attaining martyrdom, while ex-gratia assistance for SPOs attaining martyrdom has been enhanced from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, bringing SPOs at par with regular police personnel.
The total financial assistance for martyred regular police personnel has been enhanced from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1 crore, while total assistance for martyred SPOs has been enhanced from Rs 31 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
Permanent total disability insurance cover has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 75 lakh for regular police personnel and from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 60 lakh for SPOs, while permanent partial disability cover has been enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 55 lakh for regular police personnel and from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 45 lakh for SPOs.
The SPOs have also been brought at par with regular police personnel for disability-related benefits, including Rs 15 lakh for permanent total disability and Rs 7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability.
Air accidental insurance cover has been enhanced from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.35 crore for regular police personnel and Rs 1 crore for SPOs, while financial assistance for repatriation of mortal remains and ambulance charges has been enhanced to Rs 50,000 each.
Air ambulance support of Rs 10 lakh has also been introduced under the revised welfare framework.
On the occasion, J&K Bank MD & CEO presented a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to the DGP under CSR funding for the transformation of Police Public School classrooms into smart classes.
SDGP Coordination SJM Gillani and CGM J&K Bank Ashutosh Sareen were present on the occasion, while various unit heads of J&K Police joined the ceremony virtually. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by DIG Headquarters JS Johar and was conducted by DSP Welfare Anjana.
Meanwhile, DGP Prabhat released a booklet titled “Dos and Don’ts in Terror Related Investigations”, compiled by the State Investigation Agency (SIA).
Calling it a “remarkable weapon and bedrock for successful investigation in terror cases,” the DGP urged all officers of J&K Police to use it effectively in terror-related investigations—(KNO)