Constable's death brings alive police martyrs' fund

A Delhi Police fund to help families of  personnel who die while on duty has had an unintended impact – resentment among some members of the force who are asking what's in it for them.

Officials are at pains to point out that Delhi Police Martyrs Fund is a voluntary scheme. Only those who want to be part of it need to contribute to it. But only those who contribute would be entitled to its benefits, which is up to Rs 20 lakhs.

Senior police officials are conducting meetings, educating staff members about the funds.
“A day gross salary would be deducted just once in their total tenure of service and they will also get tax benefits. The object of the fund is to provide financial assistance to the family
of a Delhi cop who has contributed to the fund and has died in the course of his duty,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat.

The membership to scheme is open to personnel of all ranks and cadres. In the event
of death while performing duty, the policeman’s family members will be get Rs 10 lakh. In the case death involving gallantry, the benefit will go up to Rs 20 lakh, Bhagat said.

Ironically, the fund came into being as follow-up to Delhi Police efforts to raise money to help the family of only oneof its own.  Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar announced that all police personnel would contribute their one day’s salary to help family members of constable Subhash Tomar, who died in January this year while on duty during protests against December 16 gang rape.

But realising that one day’s salary of 86,000 policemen would add up to Rs 8 crore to Rs 10 crore, the commissioner clarified that only IPS officers will contribute their one day’s salary for Tomar’s family. Thereafter, he constituted Delhi Police Martyrs’ Fund in February, and a day’s salary was deducted from all serving police personnel.

But police personnel on desk jobs are confused about this fund. Bhagat clarified,
The officer added that in 2010, a total of 10 police officials became martyrs. In 2011, 17 personnel lost their life while on duty, and in 2012, a total
of 10 police personnel died.