Nagpur: The Police Boys Association has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis to replace the annual Diwali advance given to police personnel with a festival bonus, arguing that monthly salary deductions place an unnecessary financial burden on the force.
In a letter to Fadnavis, Amit Shivmani Dubey, Nagpur city and rural district president of the Police Boys Association, demanded that the ₹12,500 advance currently provided to Maharashtra Police personnel be converted into a Diwali bonus, without any subsequent deductions from their salaries.
24-Hour Duty Takes a Toll on Police Personnel
The association highlighted the demanding working conditions faced by police personnel, who serve the public around the clock under the motto “Sadrakshanaya Khalanigrahanaya” — protecting the good and restraining the wicked.
According to the letter, police personnel often work without fixed duty hours and face considerable physical and mental stress. The association cited health problems, including piles, high blood pressure and diabetes, among the challenges faced by personnel. It also expressed concern over instances of police personnel dying by suicide amid mounting pressures.
The letter further acknowledged the sacrifices made by police personnel while serving the public, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Association Objects to Monthly Salary Deductions
Dubey pointed out that Maharashtra Police personnel receive an annual Diwali advance of ₹12,500, which is subsequently recovered through monthly salary deductions of ₹1,250.
The association described this arrangement as unfair, arguing that personnel who work under demanding conditions should receive meaningful financial support during the festival rather than an advance that must be repaid.
Demand for Bonus on the Lines of Central Government Employees
Citing the Centre’s decision to provide Diwali bonuses to railway employees, the association urged the Maharashtra government to adopt a similar approach for state police personnel.
It has demanded that the ₹12,500 advance be waived and granted as a Diwali bonus, ensuring that police employees and their families can celebrate the festival without the burden of repayment.
A copy of the representation has also been forwarded to the Director General of Police, Maharashtra State, for consideration.
The demand now calls on the state government to consider changing the existing festival payment arrangement for Maharashtra Police personnel.
