UP Police Mull 'Extraordinary' Pension for Comatose Constable

Lucknow: Life has come to a standstill for the family of 39-year-old police constable Jitendra Singh, who met with an accident while on duty and is in a state of coma for the past nine years.

As Singh struggles for life at a hospital in Agra, his family struggles to make ends meet.

Though the government provides 'extraordinary pension' to policemen killed while performing their duties, there is no such provision in place to provide help in such cases, where a non-gazetted policeman goes in coma.

With a view to providing help to such victims, Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh has sent a proposal to the government requesting that an extraordinary pension is provided to the family or entire salary for the 'coma' period.

As per the 1975 UP Police regulation, an extraordinary pension is paid only to those who die performing their duties fighting with dacoits, armed criminals or militants.

"Sometimes such a situation arises when a policeman while performing duties gets injured in an encounter or meets with an accident due to which they go in 'coma'.

"Under such circumstances, all his leaves exhaust and his family faces financial crisis. Taking note of the genuine problem of the family members of such devoted policemen, the DGP has sent a proposal to the government that would help such families," DGP, PRO, Rahul Srivastava told PTI.

The move will come to the aid of victims like Jitendra Singh, who met with an accident while coming to Kanpur Dehat from Agra on January 7, 2009, with important letters.

"While constable Varun Kumar Mishra accompanying him died, Jitendra was seriously injured and was admitted to a hospital where he is lying in coma since then", his wife Uma Rajput told PTI.

As per existing provisions, Mishra's family is getting an extraordinary pension.

"Presently Jitendra is undergoing treatment in Agra. After the accident, he was treated in Kanpur and Lucknow...As we are not getting anything (financial help), it's difficult for me to run the family," Uma, who has a 12-year-old son, said.

According to Home department officials, the proposal is "under consideration" and is likely to be accepted.