Stress taking toll, 315 Punjab policemen opt for VRS in 8 months
There may be immense ‘power and perks’ attached with a job in the Punjab Police, but still as many as 315 cops up to the rank of Inspector have availed pre-mature retirement under the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) till August 31 this year.
Those who complete 20 years of service are eligible for availing VRS, though it was very rare, said official sources. Out of the 315 cops whose VRS requests were approved this year, most were over 50 years old.
Spent my life chasing criminals
My children are married and settled abroad. I have spent my entire life chasing criminals and attending court hearings. I missed the childhood of my children. I don't want to miss the childhood of my grandchildren. Also, I think I am fit for travel now, which I may not be when I turn 60, so I put in my papers. An Inspector who availed voluntary retirement scheme
Annually, an average of about 2,000 cops of all ranks retire every year after completing full service till the age of 58 — or 60, in case they have got extension in service.
According to the rank-wise figures, 65 Inspectors, 130 sub-inspectors and 120 assistant sub-inspectors have opted for voluntary retirement this year. These applications were approved at the DGP level. VRS requests from gazetted officers — DSP and above — have to be made before the state Home Department. Sources revealed only one DSP has applied for VRS this year. His application is yet to be approved.
The Commissionerate of Police (CP), Amritsar, has the highest number of cops — 20 — who have got premature retirement, followed by Batala (17), Jalandhar CP (15), and Ludhiana Rural and Hoshiarpur (13 each).
Interestingly, Fazilka district, which sees frequent transfers of SSPs and SPs, has not a single cop on the list. The Technical Services Section has the highest number of cops (27) who have availed the VRS.
The issue of seeking voluntary retirement came to the fore when an SP-rank officer of the State Prisons Department, Manjit Singh Sidhu, sought premature retirement after he was transferred to the Bathinda jail.
Cops who have sought to avail the VRS cited ‘domestic’ or ‘personal’ reasons in their applications. However, wishing not to be quoted, a number of those who have availed the VRS said the job was too stressful to continue.
Some have opted for the VRS because they wanted to retire at the opportune time when there was no inquiry against them. There was a good number of those whose children have settled abroad and they, too, want to either move there permanently or spend more time with them.
Regarding the stress faced on the job, a retired Inspector said: “The police job is taxing and stressful from Day One but as you grow old, you cannot take that much of stress, odd working hours and frequent court hearings. One’s health gets affected.”
A sub-inspector said with the advent of technology and increased scrutiny of police due to cameras everywhere, the task to nail a criminal and carry out clean arrest has become very tough. “A police official is always under scrutiny now. We catch a criminal with much difficulty but the courts and the media will pick small loopholes and blow up the entire case. There is a lot of difference between theory of policing and actual policing. Where can you question the criminal?” he said. “CCTV cameras are mandatory in police stations. Even the crime scene, the place of arrest has to be recorded. So, I thought I should retire peacefully now, when I have no inquiry against me.”
Some such cops have taken up the job of a security officer with various businesses or shopping malls. “Private jobs pay far better and are quite cool,” said an ASI, who recently availed the VRS.
