Kolkata, March 19 (IANS). The Election Commission on Thursday sought a report from the West Bengal government. The report has been sought after the government announced an ad-hoc bonus for the financial year 2025-26 for civilian volunteers working under both West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, as well as Gram Police volunteers under West Bengal Police.
This announcement was made through a notification issued from the State Secretariat, Nabanna.
According to administrative sources, this announcement made ahead of the elections is significant as civil volunteers play a vital role in maintaining law and order across the state and also take up additional responsibilities during the elections. In this context, the provision of these financial benefits is being seen as recognition of their service.
Additionally, there have been political reactions to this announcement. A section of the opposition alleged that such steps were taken to appease civic volunteers ahead of the elections. However, the administration has clarified that the step is part of a regular process and has been taken as per the recommendations of the Finance Department.
The opposition has also claimed that the announcement has been made after the notification of assembly elections, and hence it is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Following this development, the Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the state government.
The state government’s notification said that civilian volunteers serving under the state police and Kolkata Police, as well as village police volunteers serving under the West Bengal Police, will get this bonus during this current financial year.
A lump sum increase of Rs 600 has been made in the ad-hoc bonus. On February 27, the state government had announced an increase in ad-hoc bonus for its employees; Now this benefit has been extended to citizen volunteers and village police volunteers also.
With this announcement, civic volunteers and village police volunteers will now get Rs 7,400, which was earlier Rs 6,800.
It is noteworthy that on February 27, the state finance department had issued a notification stating that government employees who do not fall under the ‘Productivity-Based Bonus Scheme’, and whose revised monthly salary as of March 31, 2026 does not exceed Rs 46,000, will get a bonus of Rs 7,400 per person.
Subject to certain conditions, contractual employees and those who have completed six months of service are also entitled to receive this bonus. Payment will be made as per the West Bengal Service (Revision of Pay and Allowances) Rules, 2019. It does not include allowances like house rent allowance, medical allowance and subsidy. It is also worth noting that just hours before the formal notification for assembly elections in West Bengal was issued on March 15, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced a hike in the monthly honorarium of priests and muezzins.
In a post on social media, Banerjee announced an increase in monthly honorarium by Rs 500. After this amendment, they will now get Rs 2,000 every month.
–IANS
SCH