Govt okays deployment of 10k SPOs

Strengthening the policing system in violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre on Wednesday cleared a proposal to recruit an additional 10,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) for the state force.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave his approval for engaging SPOs in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, especially for the security related requirements, a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

"The orders have been implemented with immediate effect and the additional numbers is over and above the existing strength of the SPOs. The reimbursement of expenditure to the State Government by the Centre in respect of 10,000 SPOs will be as per existing approved Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Guidelines," a statement said.

There are currently 25,000 SPOs in Jammu and Kashmir. An SPO will initially draw a salary of Rs 5,000 per month, Rs 5,300 after completion of one year and Rs 6,000 after completion of three years.

This is part of the central government move to provide employment opportunities to 1.40 lakh youths in the state through skill development training, jobs in police and paramilitary forces and other avenues.

Around one lakh youths will be given job training under 'Himayat' scheme in the next five years. Since inception, 60,000 youths have been given training under this scheme.

The Udaan scheme launched in 2013 aims to provide skill development training to 40,000 mostly graduate and post graduate youths over a period of five years.
So far, 21,000 youths were given training. The Centre is also in the process of recruiting 5,000 youths in five newly created India Reserve battalions in Jammu and Kashmir.