Cops boycott canteen food, protest against pay discrepancy

Jaipur: Policemen across several police stations of the state on Monday boycotted the canteen food to protest against pay discrepancies. Constables of some police stations in Jaipur rural, Sikar, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu and Jaipur Police Commissionerate refused the canteen food as symbolic part of their protest.

Some of the constables wore black bands around their arms while carrying out their duties. The constables said that government had deducted their salaries and delayed their promotions. Some of the constables sent a letter to their station house officer, confirming their actions.

A constable on condition of anonymity informed TOI that discriminatory deductions in the pay scale of lower constabulary would impede their effectivity. "We have been protesting to register our dismay, we have not called of any strike and would carry out our duties," said a cop.

Several of the constables added that they will speak to the government to meet their demands. "We work for 24 hours; we don't get any off days neither we get any incentives," said the constable.

Meanwhile, home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said in Alwar that a solution would be found soon. "We will discuss this matter once everybody agrees to a meeting," he said.

The constables of 2006 batch have been protesting that their pay has been deducted in the Seventh Pay Commission. In Alwar too, constables of police line boycotted the canteen food while wearing black bands.

A senior official of the Rajasthan police said that a middle ground should be reached very soon on the matter. "This is a serious matter and we hope that some plausible solution would be found," said the official.