Whole lot of fringe benefits to retired IAS/IPS officers retiring five to ten years back!

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Some top-level and retired IAS/IPS officers in Assam are seen to avail a whole lot of undue fringe benefits (perks) like bodyguards, orderlies, drivers and others which they duly availed while in service. In fact, a section of such retired officers has made it a legacy of sorts in the State at the cost of commoners’ security.

A general view is that an IAS or IPS officer retiring some five to ten years back should not have security threat. Of course, there may be a few exceptional cases.

It is glaringly visible that most of police personnel engaged as orderlies, bodyguards or drivers of top-level retired police officers are seen to perform domestic chores of the former officers who they are attached to. It happens at a time when there is an acute shortage of manpower in the State police force. The money being spent for deputing police personnel for undue fringe benefits of retired IAS/IPS officers goes from the State exchequer. For a section of retired IAS/IPS officers, orderlies and bodyguards following them wherever they go is a status symbol, circles concerned feel.

How come the legacy of such undue fringe benefits to a section of retired officers is allowed to continue in the State that is suffering from shortage of manpower?

According to insiders, such an undue legacy keeps continuing even today because some top retired officers who are not used to with their shrunken benefits after retirement keep asking for such facilities. When a top retired police officer asks a commandant to send an orderly or a driver, the latter, at least for the sake of courtesy, obliges, insiders in the State police force say.

Even there are examples of Assam police personnel working as orderlies, drivers and bodyguards of some top-level retired police officers in other States of India where they hail from.

Enough is enough, circles concerned in the State feel. Such generosity on the part of commandants or other officers in obliging to undue demands for orderlies and drivers from retired police officers should be stopped forthwith. This is because it is done at the cost of the public security. The cost incurred in the process is also from the public exchequer. No police or other officers should be generous with public money, circles concerned say.

It is high time the genuine security threats of retired IAS/IPS officers of the State were assessed and their security and other personnel withdrawn.

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