The alliance government has accepted the proposals submitted by Director General of Police Arvind Inamdar and will soon make the requisite budgetary allocations.

The Sanjeevan Nidhi scheme will extend financial assistance to police officials suffering from serious heart, kidney and other ailments. Funds will be released for the next of kin of policemen killed in harness. The government has also increased the annual welfare fund from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

The Sanjeevan Nidhi scheme entails voluntary contribution of Rs 10 per month from officials up to the rank of head constable, Rs 15 up to the rank of deputy superintendent and Rs 20 from the rank of deputy commissioner and above.

Thegovernment has also agreed to create 7,000 posts of police naik, 3,400 posts of constables, 7,000 of assistant sub-inspector, 603 of assistant police inspector, 800 inspectors and 350 of deputy superintendent.

This has opened up promotional avenues, allowing constables to reach the rank of inspector, while a person who enrolls as a sub-inspector can be promoted to the level of a deputy commissioner.

The additional manpower will also mean that the constabulary can now avail of their weekly holiday. Besides, constables can now sport a hat and the Maharashtra Police badge on their epaulets, a privilege hitherto accorded only to officers.

A senior police official said that for the first time, more than 80,000 constables on duty during the mid-term election have been paid a special allowance. "We also expect the wages of the entire police force to go up considerably following the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission."

"We have made a strong case before the Sukthankar Committee appointed for thepurpose," the official added.