Bengaluru woman Home Guard attempts suicide due to delay in payment of salary

She expressed concern that she would be sacked for bringing the matter to public notice.
Bengaluru woman Home Guard attempts suicide due to delay in payment of salary
Bengaluru woman Home Guard attempts suicide due to delay in payment of salary
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Days after a woman Sub-Inspector attempted suicide in Bengaluru, a woman Home Guard attached to the City Police attempted suicide on Thursday, but was stopped in time. 

The New Indian Express reports that S Sumathi was distressed by a four-month delay in payment of salaries. She informed Abhishek Goyal, DCP (Traffic) about her issues before trying to take her life.

This comes at a time when the police department is already facing severe criticisms over the suicide of Madikeri DySP Ganapathy a few weeks ago.

S Sumathi, who regulates traffic in front of Commissioner’s Office tried to consume poison on Thursday as she wasn’t paid her salaries for the last four months. Sumathi was, however, stopped in time.

“I have been working for six years with the Bengaluru police. These last four months, I haven’t got a rupee. I have already borrowed Rs 35,000 for my son’s fees and home essentials,” she told Express. She further expressed concern that she would be sacked for bringing the matter to public notice. 

Express quotes Goyal as saying that the delay in payment of salaries would be rectified and that the Home Guards would be paid their salaries within a day.

The 620 Home Guards attached to the City Police are paid Rs.12,000 a month. Many spoke to Express confirming that they never receive salaries on time, forcing them to avail loans to meet expenses.

 Assurances

Admitting that there had been delay in payment of salaries, City Police Commissioner NS Megharikh said that a new system is now in place to pay Home Guards their salaries every month. He assured that there would be no delay in the future.

However, Deccan Herald reports that the Commissioner denied reports that Sumathi had attempted suicide.

Attributing the delay to the fact that Home Guards are not permanent employees, R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Admin) said that Home Guards shall approach him if they face financial crisis. Express quotes him as saying that unlike earlier when the Home Guards were paid from the office, salaries would be transferred to their bank accounts hereafter.  

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