Uttarakhand: On Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in an event held at the Police Lines in Dehradun to mark Police Commemoration Day. The Chief Minister paid tribute to the martyred personnel of the police and paramilitary forces and honored the families of the fallen police personnel.
The Chief Minister stated that the police and paramilitary forces play a vital role in the nation’s internal security. Over the past year, 154 personnel across the country made the supreme sacrifice while in the line of duty, including Sub-Inspector Vinod Kumar of the Uttarakhand Police. He remarked that martyrs are the pride of the entire nation. The National Police Memorial in New Delhi, dedicated to the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands as a symbol of the sacrifice and courage of these brave personnel.
The Chief Minister made eight significant announcements aimed at strengthening the police force and ensuring the welfare of its personnel. He announced the commencement of a recruitment process for approximately 1,600 vacant positions across various units of the Uttarakhand Police. He also directed a review of the staffing requirements and organizational structure at police stations and outposts, and announced the provision of modern investigation kits for investigating officers. Furthermore, the annual budget allocated for the operational requirements of police stations will be increased from ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced initiatives to upgrade all ‘Police Modern Schools’ in the state, the construction of transit hostels and multi-story barracks for police personnel in Dehradun, and the upgradation of the Police Hospital in Dehradun. He emphasized that the government is committed to providing better facilities for police personnel and their families.
The Chief Minister noted that the ‘khaki’ uniform symbolizes courage, discipline, and service to the nation. Police personnel often remain away from their families—even during festivals—to ensure the safety of the public. Their role becomes even more critical given Uttarakhand’s unique geographical conditions and its vulnerability to natural disasters.
The Chief Minister highlighted that drug abuse and cybercrime have emerged as serious contemporary challenges. To combat the drug menace, a three-tier Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been established. To realize the vision of a ‘Drug-Free Uttarakhand,’ strict action is being taken against drug traffickers. The Chief Minister stated that in this era of the internet and artificial intelligence, the police must stay two steps ahead of cybercriminals by leveraging modern technology, receiving better training, and ensuring coordination with other agencies. A ‘State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ is currently being established at a cost of approximately ₹32 crore. Furthermore, to ensure the safety of women, ‘Quick Response Teams’ have been formed under the ‘Women’s Help Desk’ at every police station.
The Chief Minister commended the Uttarakhand Police for their contribution in ensuring a safe and smooth journey for the nearly 50 million (5 crore) Kanwar pilgrims this year, as well as for the more than 6 million (60 lakh) devotees who have participated in the Char Dham Yatra so far. He noted that 319 police personnel have been honored with various medals and commendations this year for their exemplary service. He added that the nomination of the Uttarakhand Police for the prestigious ‘President’s Police Colours’ is a matter of great pride for the state.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the housing satisfaction rate for police personnel has increased from 18% to 22%, with a target to reach 30%. This year, 785 police personnel were promoted, and direct recruitment was conducted for 1,573 constables in the Civil Police and 370 in the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). The recruitment process for 222 positions—including Sub-Inspectors, Platoon Commanders, and Second Officers in the Fire Service—has been completed. Additionally, 24 dependents of deceased police personnel have been provided with employment. In the current financial year, over ₹58 crore has been allocated for the development and maintenance of police stations, fire stations, barracks, messes, and other workplaces. Cashless medical facilities are also being provided to police personnel. Furthermore, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of organizing regular programs focused on stress management for the police force.
Director General of Police Deepam Seth stated that since the formation of the state, 206 personnel of the Uttarakhand Police have laid down their lives in the line of duty. This year, approximately ₹50 lakh was provided to the families of the deceased from the Police Martyrs’ Fund, while an ex-gratia amount of about ₹31 crore has been disbursed so far under the ‘Police Salary Package’ scheme. A 24/7 police help desk is being established at AIIMS Rishikesh. Additionally, this year, ₹1.16 crore was provided to 25 personnel from the ‘Life-Saving Fund’ (Jeevan Rakshak Nidhi), and scholarships totaling ₹34 lakh were awarded to 446 meritorious children.
Present on this occasion were Haridwar MP and former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLA Savita Kapoor, Dehradun District Panchayat Chairperson Sukhwinder Kaur, Rishikesh Mayor Shambhu Paswan, State Women’s Commission Chairperson Kusum Kandwal, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Chief Information Commissioner Radha Raturi, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, former Director General of Police Anil Raturi, Dehradun District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan, senior police officers, and other dignitaries.
