A Much-Needed Step For Police Martyrs’ Families

Over the past thirty years, 1,620 police personnel have been killed while on duty in Jammu and Kashmir. That is not a small number. Behind each death is a family that lost its breadwinner. A child grew up without a parent. A wife became a widow. J&K Police Chief Nalin Prabhat said something very important: taking care of these families is not just a government policy, but a solemn duty. He is right. Policies can change. Duty does not. The new agreement between J&K Police and J&K Bank is a big and welcome step. The insurance cover for a policeman has gone up from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh. For SPOs, it has gone up from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh. Total help for the family of a martyred policeman is now Rs 1 crore, instead of Rs 40 lakh. For SPOs, it has gone up from Rs 31 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The new package also covers disability, medical needs, and air ambulance support. If a policeman becomes permanently disabled, he will now get Rs 75 lakh instead of Rs 10 lakh. For SPOs, it has gone up from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. This is very important. Many policemen come back from duty with serious injuries. They need money for treatment and to run their homes. Now they will get it. SPOs have also been given equal benefits for disability. This was a long-pending demand. SPOs work in the same dangerous situations as regular police. They face the same bullets and bombs. They deserve the same care. The welfare package sends a clear message to every policeman and SPO: if you protect us, we will protect your family. The peace we see today in J&K has come at a very high cost. Many families have lost their loved ones. Those families must be able to live without financial worry. Every injured policeman must get the best treatment. Every martyr’s child must get a good education. Now the government must ensure that these benefits reach every family without any delay. No one should have to run from office to office. The promise has been made. The families are waiting. They deserve nothing less.