The Election Commission has requested a report from the West Bengal government following the announcement of an ad hoc bonus for civic volunteers in the state. This bonus, granted to civic volunteers under both the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, as well as village police volunteers, is for the financial year 2025-26. The move is seen as a recognition of the crucial role these volunteers play in maintaining law and order, especially during the election period.
The decision to provide financial benefits to civic volunteers has sparked political reactions. While some opposition members view it as an attempt to appease volunteers before the elections, the administration maintains that it is a routine process based on recommendations from the Finance Department. The opposition has raised concerns that the announcement, made after the Assembly poll notification, may violate the Model Code of Conduct.
The ad hoc bonus has been raised by Rs 600, bringing the total amount to Rs 7,400 for civic volunteers and village police volunteers, up from Rs 6,800 previously. This increase aligns with a previous announcement by the state government on February 27, extending the bonus to employees not covered under the ‘Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme’ whose revised monthly salary does not exceed Rs 46,000 by March 31, 2026.
Following the notification from the state government, civic volunteers and village police volunteers will benefit from this bonus during the current financial year. The payment will be made in accordance with the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowances) Rules, 2019, and excludes certain allowances such as House Rent Allowance and Medical Allowance. Additionally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had recently announced a hike in monthly honorariums for purohits and muezzins.
