Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today announced a host of career advancement benefits for the officers of the West Bengal Police Services (WBPS) in order to give recognition for their efficiency.

Now onwards, WBPS officers would get additional increment and special allowance, a hiked uniform allowance and timely promotions. A total of 630 WBPS officers across the state would be benefited by this move.

“These officers (WBPS) have to take all responsibilities but there is nobody to think about them. So, we have taken a few decisions in relation to their promotion and career benefits. These will help in strengthening their morale as well as give them the recognition that they deserve,” said Miss Banerjee at a press conference after meeting some WBPS representatives at Nabanna.

Miss Banerjee said that 200 new WBPS and WBCS officers would be recruited very soon.

Stressing that promotions should not be delayed, Miss Banerjee announced that six DSP ranked WBPS officers were today promoted to the post of additional SP and another six additional SPs have been promoted to the post of SP. “If one is not promoted then his/her enthusiasm to work gets lost so it has to be seen that promotions are not delayed by any means,” said Miss Banerjee.

This apart, Miss Banerjee said that the departmental examinations for IPS and WBPS officers would now onwards be conducted by the Netaji Subhas Administrative Training Institute instead of the State Public Service Commission in a bid to expedite the process so as to enable officers to get promoted on time.

Miss Banerjee announced two additional increments for the WBPS officers, likewise the WBCS officers. Thus, WBPS officers would be promoted and get two additional increments after eight, 16 and 25 years of service, she said.

This apart, these officers would also get a special allowance namely Rs 2,000 for SDPOs and Rs 2,500 for additional SPs. The SPs receive a special allowance of Rs 3,000.

The uniform allowance has been hiked from Rs 200 to Rs 1,500.

She announced a welfare forum for the WBPS officers to cater to their needs and problems and an annual health check-up facility for officers.

Miss Banerjee said that the state police officers devote their life for the state and urged them to work spontaneously with a vision. “Work should not be kept pending. Complete work as fast as possible. After any incident, the first task is to take the family into confidence,” she said.