Govt hikes salaries of special striking force personnel | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: State govt on Thursday announced a significant increase in the salaries of personnel serving in the Odisha Special Striking Force (OSSF). The force comprises ex-servicemen, currently deployed in counter-Maoist operations.
“The state govt has recently established three new battalions under the OSSF framework. Retired personnel from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and former Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) members are recruited for OSSF. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved a proposal for enhanced monthly compensation across various ranks within the striking force,” read a statement from the chief minister’s office (CMO).
According to the CMO, monthly salary of sepoys has been elevated to Rs 45,000 from Rs 30,000. The remuneration of lance naik/naik/havildar positions has been raised to Rs 50,000 from Rs 32,000. For junior commissioned officers and instructors, the revised compensation stood at Rs 55,000, up from Rs 40,000.
The salary revision also includes technical personnel of the marine and mechanical divisions. Digging drivers/seaman mechanics/khalasis will now receive Rs 45,000 instead of Rs 30,000 monthly. Engine drivers will get Rs 50,000 compared to Rs 32,000, while masters will be paid Rs 55,000, up from Rs 40,000.
According to senior police officers, the salary enhancement aims to strengthen OSSF personnel’s motivation in supporting the govt’s objective to meet Centre’s target of a Naxal-free nation by March 2026. “The salary revision proposal was submitted to attract a larger pool of candidates for these positions. We expect that the enhanced salaries will boost the morale of personnel,” a senior police officer said.
Odisha police sources said that about 100-120 Maoists are presently operating in the state. The number of Naxal-affected districts has decreased from 15 in 2018-19 to 10 at present. The 10 districts are Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh.
Security deployment in these affected districts comprises 72 companies of central forces, 45 special operation group teams, 600 district voluntary force jawans, 65 India Reserve Battalion platoons, 30 special security battalion platoons, and 350 personnel of OSSF.
In a related development, the CMO on Thursday said the govt has sanctioned the creation of 2,000 new posts in the traffic department of Odisha police. Either an ADG- or IGP-rank officer will head a proposed state-level unit, named traffic and road safety wing (T&RSW). He will be assisted by a DIG, two SPs, four DSPs, six inspectors and eight sub-inspectors, among others.
“The state govt has recently established three new battalions under the OSSF framework. Retired personnel from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and former Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) members are recruited for OSSF. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved a proposal for enhanced monthly compensation across various ranks within the striking force,” read a statement from the chief minister’s office (CMO).
According to the CMO, monthly salary of sepoys has been elevated to Rs 45,000 from Rs 30,000. The remuneration of lance naik/naik/havildar positions has been raised to Rs 50,000 from Rs 32,000. For junior commissioned officers and instructors, the revised compensation stood at Rs 55,000, up from Rs 40,000.
The salary revision also includes technical personnel of the marine and mechanical divisions. Digging drivers/seaman mechanics/khalasis will now receive Rs 45,000 instead of Rs 30,000 monthly. Engine drivers will get Rs 50,000 compared to Rs 32,000, while masters will be paid Rs 55,000, up from Rs 40,000.
According to senior police officers, the salary enhancement aims to strengthen OSSF personnel’s motivation in supporting the govt’s objective to meet Centre’s target of a Naxal-free nation by March 2026. “The salary revision proposal was submitted to attract a larger pool of candidates for these positions. We expect that the enhanced salaries will boost the morale of personnel,” a senior police officer said.
Odisha police sources said that about 100-120 Maoists are presently operating in the state. The number of Naxal-affected districts has decreased from 15 in 2018-19 to 10 at present. The 10 districts are Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh.
Security deployment in these affected districts comprises 72 companies of central forces, 45 special operation group teams, 600 district voluntary force jawans, 65 India Reserve Battalion platoons, 30 special security battalion platoons, and 350 personnel of OSSF.
In a related development, the CMO on Thursday said the govt has sanctioned the creation of 2,000 new posts in the traffic department of Odisha police. Either an ADG- or IGP-rank officer will head a proposed state-level unit, named traffic and road safety wing (T&RSW). He will be assisted by a DIG, two SPs, four DSPs, six inspectors and eight sub-inspectors, among others.
