Appreciating the role of paramilitary forces and the armed police, the EC observed that the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State Armed Police (SAP) forces has become "an integral part of the overall security management and plays a crucial role in securing free, fair, peaceful and participative elections".
"The Commission fully acknowledges the arduous and sensitive nature of the duties performed by the CAPF/SAP personnel during election period... continuously facing multiple threats and challenges ranging from insurgency, Left Wing Extremism and terrorism to internal strife and caste-communal conflict," the poll panel observed.
It said that "in recognition of their crucial and sensitive nature of duties", it has decided that they should be granted an honorarium "for performing this special duty".
The rates of the honorarium vary from a minimum amount of Rs 2,500 for officers, Rs 2,000 for subordinate officers and Rs 1,500 for other ranks for any election duty which is of 15 days or less.
If the duty period exceeds 15 days, there is a sanctioned enhancement of Rs 1,250, Rs 1,000 and Rs 750 per additional week for the three categories respectively, it said.
However, the maximum honorarium permissible to a personnel shall not exceed the total pay of one month of the officer/personnel concerned, the EC clarified.
In case of Lok Sabha polls, the expenditure incurred on this account will be borne by the central government. In case of election to legislative assemblies, it will be fully borne by the state governments, the EC explained.
In case of simultaneous election to Lok Sabha and the state legislative assembly, the expenditure would be shared by the central and state governments in equal proportion.
"Through this measure, the Commission has constructively addressed not just a long-felt demand of the CAPF/SAP authorities but has also built a system of motivating and incentivising the hardwork and dedicated service by our brave and professional CAPF/SAP personnel," the poll panel said.
