Daughters of policemen: Ombudsman Punjab directs IGP to review Marriage Grant Policy

Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood has directed Inspector General Police Punjab to review Marriage Grant Policy for only two daughters of police officials and provide the facility of Marriage Grant to all daughters of police officials as admissible for civil servants in Punjab. He has directed IGP to proceed for amendment in policy keeping in view the best interests of his own force.
All police officials keep on depositing subscriptions from their monthly salaries in Benevolent Fund during span of service in a hope that they would get financial assistance for marriages of their daughters and scholarships for education. "Limiting the financial benefits of police officials is apparently a harsh policy which needs to be revised", observed Ombudsman Punjab.
According to details, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, a police constable, lodged a complaint to Ombudsman Punjab stating that he has served for 41 years as constable of Rahim Yar Khan and regularly deposited monthly subscription to Benevolent Fund but police department has refused to pay Marriage Grant. Ombudsman Punjab directed District Advisor to Ombudsman Rahim Yar Khan Muhammad Saleem Khan to probe the matter.
It was disclosed during course of inquiry that as per clause 14 of new policy, introduced by IGP Punjab, Marriage Grant can only be given for only two daughters of police officials. Since the applicant had already availed the facility therefore he was not entitled for Marriage Grant.
Ombudsman Punjab remarked that there was no limit of daughters for civil servants in respect of Marriage Grant, so bar imposed by the IGP was discriminatory which needed to be rectified. He directed IGP to review the policy and make amendments in this regard under intimation to Ombudsman Punjab Office.