PANAJI
Around 101 home guards, who transitioned into the police department as constables this year, are trapped in a distressing situation. After an arduous three-month training period at the Police Training School, Valpoi, these field staff were immediately deployed for law and order responsibilities.
But while they are performing their regular duties at different police stations, they are grappling with financial hardships, struggling to make ends meet.
Reliable police sources told The Goan that these home guards-turned-constables received only 15 days of salary upon commencing their duties on March 16 whereas, their pay for the period spanning from April till date remains pending.
“This group of constables is part of a larger cohort of 970 constable recruits who were appointed after the recruitment drive in the department. The eligible 101 home guards were absorbed as constables subsequent to which their training began. They took oath as constables thereafter and were assigned postings in July-end,” an official said explaining the recruitment procedure.
Anonymously sharing his plight, one of these constables revealed that he has been compelled to borrow money from neighbours and relatives, given his dire financial circumstances. Struggling under the weight of personal and professional responsibilities, he has no financial resources.
“I don’t even have the money to travel to and fro my designated duty point,” he said.
Sources further said that around 30 percent of the total 101 constables are the sole breadwinners for their families. As a result, with no salaries, a number of them are resorting to obtaining loans from private individuals at an interest cost. “How much can we borrow from our neighbours? Therefore, some of us have turned to lenders who extend loans at a specific interest rate,” another constable said.
“We have only received the uniform allowance of Rs 10,000. Salaries of four months are however pending,” he added.
Quite a few of them have only around 9-10 years of service left with their only hope post-retirement being the gratuity and GPF even as they are eligible to avail of medical allowances during the service period.
