Bengaluru, 28 August

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday launched comprehensive capacity-building training for Karnataka state police at Manik Shah Parade Ground in Bengaluru and said that the government has agreed to increase hardship allowance for police personnel by 50 per cent. 

“The police who protect the people of the State should live a good life,” Shivakumar said, adding that the allowance hike was based on the models of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

“Priority will be given first to the financial needs of the police. The Home Department will provide all the facilities needed by the police,” he assured.

A hardship allowance is extra pay given to workers for living or working in difficult, isolated, or dangerous places. 

Shivakumar also lauded the National Security Guard (NSG), which he said, was training Karnataka’s police. 

“When there is unrest in society and law and order worsens, you come forward to protect the honest,” he said.

He also lamented that often times, politicians blamed police personnel for occasional lapses, but praised their commitment to safeguarding that State, adding that he learnt about how hard the police worked when he was the prisons minister around 30 years ago. 

But “cyber-crimes are increasing,” he warned, while thanking Home Minister Priyank Kharge for steps taken to modernise the force. But he also noted that many of the world’s premium companies are in Bengaluru and stressed the need to preserve law and order. 

Helipad on all High-Rises?

Shivakumar said that the government was considering making it mandatory to have helipads on all high-rises.

“High-rise buildings are increasing in Bengaluru City. If fire accidents or terrorist attacks happen, protecting citizens is our duty. In such emergency situations, to save lives by using helipads, our government will hold talks with military and air force officials for an agreement,” he said. “The necessary space should be provided to build helipads on the high-rise buildings. I request builders and developers to cooperate. Our government will give permission within the legal framework.”